THE  MUSTEE; 


OR, 


LOVE  AND  LIBERTY. 


BY  B.  F.  PRESBURY. 


To  hold  yoir  fSsVdOtn  still  my  heatt  im'j(>ibre  me, 
Still  bid  me  clutch  the  charm  that  lures  and  flies : 

Ye  crowd  around ;  come,  then,  hold  empire  o'er  me, 
As  from  the  mist  and  haze  of  thought  ye  rise. 

FAUST,  Brooks's  Translation. 


BOSTON: 
SHEPARD,  CLARK  &  BROWN. 

1859. 


*?*? 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1858,  Ly 

SHEPARD,  CLARK   &  BROWN, 
In  the  Clerk'a  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


ELECTROTYPED     AT     THE 
BOSTON      STEEEOTTPE     FOUNDRY. 


PREFATORY. 


IN  fleeting  tide  among  these  silent  leaves, 

The  mystic  current  of  my  dreaming  flows, 

And,  gliding  onward,  in  my  soul  there  glows 
The  hope  that  o'er  its  deepest  murmurs  breathes 

A  tone  which  will  not  tremble  to  its  close, 
E'en  when  the  cloud  that  dims  my  country's  stars 
Shall  vanish  in  the  holy  light  it  bars. 

Whence  are  the  thoughts  that  like  the  morning  soar  ? 

Thrown  up  like  pearls  are  they  along  our  shore 
By  the  deep  waves  from  some  diviner  sphere? 
I  know  not  how  within -my  heart  appear 

The  rays  now  joining  the  auroral  gleam ; 

There  seems  a  spell  upon  me  while  I  dream, 

And  in  weird  whispers  come  —  "  You  but  transmit  the  beam." 

TACNTON,  Oct.  23, 1858. 

1*  (5) 


THE   MUSTEE; 

OR, 

LOVE     AND     LIBERTY 


CHAPTER    I. 

We  do  not  make  our  thoughts ;  they  grow  in  us 
Like  grain  in  wood.  FESTUS. 

"  ARE  you  still  feeding  on  law-calf  and  sheep  ?  "  inquired 
Anthony  Featherstone,  as  he  entered  the  office  of  Brian  Park, 
on  returning  from  a  somewhat  protracted  pleasure  excursion. 

"  Even  so,"  was  the  reply  of  the  student. 

"  But  you  are  trying  the  dust  of  Lyttleton  and  the  bones 
of  Coke  once  more ! "  said  Featherstone,  with  surprise ;  "  I 
thought  you  had  studied  law,  and  been  called  to  enter  upon 
its  practice." 

"  I  have  so  far  prepared  myself  as  to  be  permitted  to  com 
mence  the  practice,"  replied  Park,  laying  down  his  book; 
"but  to  have  thoroughly  mastered  the  voluminous  and  pro 
found  science,  only  those  who  have  grown  old  and  continued 
lovingly  constant  can  lay  claim  to  have  done." 

"  That  may  be,"  said  Featherstone ;  "  yet  I  do  not  intend 
to  bend  over  it  as  I  have  hitherto ;  for  when  I  was  admitted 

(7) 


8\  ::TKE  \MU.S  TEE,    OR 

to  the  bar,  I  considered  that  the  world  was  laid  open  to  me 
far  wider  than  it  had  been ;  and  I  intend,  as  I  may  be  able,  to 
look  in  upon  its  shows,  and  taste  its  various  vintage,  as  well 
as  to  climb  the  steep  where  laurels  grow." 

"  You  think  so,  I  have  no  doubt ;  and  it  may  be  even  as  you 
imagine,"  replied  Park.  "  Still  you  may  behold,  also,  in  the 
same  magic  glass,  whose  rosy  pictures  fill  you  with  such  hope, 
the  shadows  of  the  dangers  which  follow  the  votaries.  You 
can  see,  if  you  will,  how  the  merest  trifle  may  prevent  you 
from  enjoying  the  one,  ill  health,  which  lies  in  wait  there, 
deprive  another  of  all  its  charms,  while  a  single  misstep,  taken 
within  its  tempting  precincts,  shall  put  the  last  beyond  your 
aspiring  grasp." 

"  But  to  acquire  the  means  for  pleasure  has  been  my  chief 
spur  throughout  all  the  fagging  toil  of  preparation,"  urged 
Featherstone.  "  Would  you  have  me  now,  when  she  begins 
to  appear  before  and  beckon  to  me,  and  whisper  of  reward, 
pass  her  by  unrecognized  ?  Do  you  see  any  weakness  in  me, 
or  want  of  power,  that  raises  this  ghost  of  failure  to  flit  before 
your  eyes  ?  " 

"  Not  want  of  power,  certainly,"  Park  replied ;  "  but  econ 
omy  of  strength,  singleness  of  purpose,  a  sleepless  devotion  to 
one  aim,  making  continual  and  untiring  shots  at  one  mark, 
until  you  have  trained  every  faculty  to  sight  on  that  centre. 
Such  competitors  there  are  on  every  shining  path ;  hence  he 
who  desires  to  ascend  must  arm  himself  to  meet  them  ;  and, 
so  armed,  lie  down  with  his  weapon  chained  to  his  wrist,  and 
rise  up  to  give  it  edge,  or  to  acquire  new  dexterity  in  its  use. 
Lord  Mansfield  declined  marriage  even,  that  he  might  reign 
supremest  of  chancellors." 

"  If  I  occasionally  visit  a  way-side  bower,"  explained  Feath 
erstone,  "  it  will  be  only  for  refreshment  or  repose ;  they  can 
not  bind  or  enervate  ;  on  the  word,  I  shall  go  forth,  nor  cast  a 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  9 

single  lingering  glance  behind.  I  do  not  intend  to  avoid  exer 
tion  or  struggle  even  ;  yet  I  must  and  will  have  some  change, 
as  constancy  appears  to  me  stupid  and  monotonous." 

"  I  think  that  I  understand  you,"  replied  Park ;  "  and  the 
better,  because  what  you  say  of  yourself  accords  with  my  own 
observation.  But  these  fair-seeming  pleasures  take  time,  and 
that  is  the  least  of  what  they  take  —  their  fires  consume  either 
strength  or  heart,  goods  which  none  of  us  can  well  spare. 
You  smile,  as  though  you  thought  yourself  invulnerable ;  and 
I  am  aware  that  your  bodily  health  and  constitutional  vigor 
are  remarkable ;  yet  I  know,  also,  the  tastes  and  appetites 
that  must  be  laid,  like  weeds,  in  order  that  something  nobler 
may  spring  there  —  something  worthy  of  the  gift  of  life.  If 
you  did  not  like  the  study  of  the  law,  you  should  not  have 
vowed  yourself  to  it;  for  it,  also,  can  only  be  conquered 
by  love;  and  when  one  loves,  he  cannot  be  easily  enticed 
away." 

"  If  I  had  wealth,"  said  Featherstone,  "  I  would  not  open 
another  law  book.  Indeed.  I  never  pretended  to  like  the 
study  for  itself,  but  only  for  what  it  promised  to  give.  I 
labored  for  future  reward ;  and  I  supposed  that  you  were 
doing  the  same ;  though  I  think  I  see  now  where  you  stand, 
because  I  perceive  there  is  a  striking  agreement  between  your 
preaching  and  practice.  Yet  we  are  unlike  ;  so  much  so.  that 
we  have  never  come  in  contact,  and  therein  may  be  found  the 
reason  why  we  have  gone  on  so  smoothly.  I  look  back  now 
and  see  that  you  carried  off  some  of  the  honors  of  the  classes, 
not  because  yours  was  the  strongest  arm,  but  by  the  cunning 
use  of  your  weapons :  and  yet,  after  all,  the  dexterity  was 
natural  to  you ;  hence  it  was  easily  developed,  so  that  you 
took  the  appropriate  rewards  without  the  toil  of  many  who 
failed ;  and  you  may  continue  to  take,  without  exciting  either 
envy  or  emulation  in  me,  for  the  world  has  richer  prizes. 


10  THEMUSTEE,    OR 

1^ 

But  you  will  give  me  leave  to  say  that  it  is  the  fault  of  men 
of  your  cast  of  mind  to  see  no  other  course  than  your  own  for 
any  man.  Yet  the  most  promising  rarely  walk  the  path  you 
prescribe." 

"  It  may  be  so,  and  is  so  frequently,"  replied  Park ;  "  and 
observation  of  it  is  not  without  a  lesson  of  wisdom;  for  if  they, 
the  gifted, 

*  The  primrose  path  of  dalliance  tread,' 

their  fire  will  grow  dim.  What  has  become  of  the  young 
men  who  were  the  bright  particular  stars  when  we  first  went 
to  the  university  ?  Where  is  A.,  the  wit  ?  paragraphing  for 
the  newspapers.  Where  is  C.,  the  poet?  dead  of  his  ex 
cesses.  Where  is  P.,  the  brilliant  debater  ?  ascended  to  a 
desk,  in  a  room  with  twenty  others,  at  the  Custom  House ! 
Now,  I  do  not  name  these  men  to  jeer  at  them,  but  to  seriously 
ask  why  so  much  promise  was  obscured  or  quenched.  Is  not 
the  answer  obvious  ?  namely,  because  they  believed  in  the 
sufficiency  of  their  genius  —  which  fact  flings  a  doubt  on  the 
possession.  For  what  is  Genius  ?  certainly  not  a  patent  to 
exempt  from  application ;  but  rather  to  do  that  with  love 
which  all  others  must  bend  to  as  a  task  :  it  is  to  have  a  pre 
disposition,  by  nature,  to  something  great  and  glorious,  so  that 
we  can  cheerfully  pour  time  and  strength,  and  even  life  itself, 
as  libations  for  its  approving  smile.  And  if  we  turn  to  the 
wine  cup,  or  the  bower  of  Calypso,  of  what  avail  will  be  the 
radiant  gift,  except  to  make  those  whom  we  may  meet  there 
the  more  charmed,  and  consequently  the  more  persuasive  to 
detain  ?  Indeed,  who  that  does  not  soar  on  its  pinion  can  hear 
the  voices  which  lure  one  down  ?  You  will  not  suspect  me  of 
merely  playing  the  preacher  in  these  remarks;  on  the  con 
trary,  you  may  believe  I  am  seriously  aiming  to  lay  open  life 
so  that  I  may  realize  it  unto  myself;  for  I  have  entered  the 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  11 

lists  with  an  unblazoned  shield,  and  see  before  me  the  pen 
nons  of  the  brave  and  the  arms  of  the  mighty." 

"  I  know  that  you  are  ambitious,"  said  Featherstone,  "  and, 
if  you  live  long  enough,  will  be  likely  to  accomplish  your  pur 
pose,  whatever  it  be ;  and  you  may  think  it  your  pursuit  of 
happiness.  But  do  not  wrecks  lie  all  along  that  path  also  ? 
Even  most  of  the  successful  few,  who,  cutting  through  every 
obstacle,  at  length  reach  the  height,  all  covered  with  scars, 
find  only  a  i  barren  sceptre  in  their  grasp.'  Yet,  after  all, 
this  knowledge  does  not  deter  the  brave  —  and  it  is  something 
to  have  so  aspired  —  only  the  finest  of  the  Alpine  peasants 
become  the  hunters  of  the  chamois." 

"  It  is  discipline  and  practice  that  make  their  daring  suc 
cessful,"  replied  Park.  "  I  have  many  times  admired  the 
vigor  of  your  arm  for  a  single  blow,  and  have  seen  the  luck 
less  debater  stagger  before  it ;  yet  you  could  not  follow  up 
and  demolish  him ;  for,  relying  on  native  strength,  you  had 
neglected  the  science  of  offence  and  defence.  Indeed,  the 
wild  forces  of  the  mind  seldom  bear  conviction  with  their 
exhibition ;  while  the  trained  thinker  can  forge  a  chain  of 
reasons  which  shall  bind  you  to  the  remotest  thing.  You  may 
struggle  against  it,  but  you  will  only  rattle  your  fetters  until  a 
more  able  mind  severs  them  link  from  link,  and  redeems  you 
from  the  bondage.  And,  by  way  of  illustration,  I  have  been 
reading  this  morning  an  opinion  of  our  Supreme  Court,  over 
ruling  a  decision  of  twenty  years'  standing.  During  that 
period  persuasive  advocates  have  assaulted,  flaming  declaim- 
ers  have  stormed  it,  in  vain ;  while  now  it  goes  down  be 
fore  the  scientific  approaches  of  a  cold  and  acute  reasoner. 
Looking  upon  this,  and  kindred  triumphs,  I  regard  rea 
soning  as  a  fine  art,  and  one  in  which  it  is  very  difficult 
to  win  the  highest  success,  requiring,  as  it  does,  that  pa- 


12  THEMUSTEE,    OR 

tience  and  persistency  of  thought  which  only  an  iron  will 
can  enforce. 

"  The  ablest  reasoner  of  our  time,  and  not  surpassed  in  any, 
on  the  facts  of  a  case  and  the  principles  of  law  that  could  be 
made  to  apply  to  it,  came  with  a  poet's  gifts  from  the  hand  of 
Nature.  Yet  he  devoted  himself  with  all  patience  to  the  art 
of  discipline,  until  not  only  the  drill  was  complete,  but  even 
the  uniform  made  sober !  In  the  course  of  a  long  life  he 
went  down  to  many  great  fields,  and,  although  he  has  given 
them  to  the  memory  of  the  ages,  no  man  ever  saw  him  call 
all  his  reserve  into  action.  Calmly  and  warily  he  surveyed 
the  hostile  lines,  until  he  had  searched  out  the  weak  place ; 
then,  on  it,  he  columned  up,  and  bore  down,  and  clove  deep, 
always  to  fame's  wreath,  if  not  to  the  victor's  crown.  Yet, 
throughout  all,  though  endowed  with  an  imagination  the  most 
soaring,  he  seldom  took  wing  whenever  he  felt  the  earth  firm 
beneath  his  feet.  Only  here  and  there  some  high-naming 
bannered  thought  outrolled  to  '  the  sun  in  the  heavens '  as  he 
broke  through  his  opponent's  defences,  and  swept  over  the  dis 
puted  ground. 

"  Though  destined  to  such  meridian  splendor,  dark  clouds 
beset  his  rising;  and  even  far  up  the  morning  only  faint 
gleams  of  light  laced  their  folds.  Still  he  bore  on.  And  if 
there  were  times  when  he  sought  for  repose  in  some  obscure 
place,  he  yet  pressed  forward  when  the  breath  of  friendship 
or  the  fire  of  genius  rekindled  hope  —  so  with  alternate  heat 
and  cold  the  blades  of  Damascus  were  tempered." 

"  No  one  admires  the  display  of  such  powers  more  than  I 
do,"  said  Featherstone  ;  "  but,  if  they  are  only  to  be  brought 
out  and  subdued  to  use  by  such  long  and  laborious  training,  I 
shall  not  aspire  to  their  perfect  mastery.  Others  might  enjoy 
it,  I  could  not :  he  may  be  an  example  for  you,  but  not  for 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  13 

me.  You  may  continue  to  pour  water  on  your  napkin,  and 
bind  it  around  your  forehead  to  drive  away  sleep  in  the  still 
night,  while  you  bend  over  the  pages  of  your  Coke  on  Lyt- 
tleton,  but  I  shall  look  for  my  pleasure  elsewhere ;  and,  when 
I  find  it,  help  myself  at  once,  for  it  aggravates  me  to  see  any 
one  leave  to  the  chances  of  to-morrow  that  which  might  be 
tasted  to-day." 

"  As  you  have  led  the  conversation  back  to  yourself,"  said 
Park,  "  permit  me  to  say  that  you  appear  to  have  no  fixed 
principle  ;  at  least,  your  words  import  that  you  mean  to  be 
governed  chiefly  by  impulse.  Now,  much  of  it  may  be  good, 
I  grant ;  but  some  of  it  will  be  likely  to  be  wrong,  and  all  of 
it  must  be  reckless." 

"  Well,  perhaps  it  may  be  so,"  replied  Featherstone  ;  "  and 
I  know  you  are  a  different  being ;  but  does  it  follow  that  you 
are  a  better  ?  You  speak  as  though  you  thought  your  plan 
proceeded  from  principle  !  Yet  I  understand  it  to  be  nothing 
more  than  a  system  spun  from  expediency.  You  may  fortify 
your  path  with  reasons  ;  but  those,  too  often,  can  only  justify 
it  to  yourself.  Simply  because  you  have  determined  to  take 
no  step  in  life  without  calculating  its  consequences,  must  I 
infer  that  yours  will  be  a  worthier  course  than  mine  ?  " 

"  Safer,  perhaps,"  said  Park,  smiling. 

"  For  the  time,  it  may  be,"  said  Featherstone  ;  "  yet  in  the 
long  run  —  well,  we  shall  see.  But,  by  the  way,  and  to 
change  the  subject,  —  for  I  am  tired  of  this,  —  I  met  your 
cousin,  Mrs.  Fardel,  at  one  of  the  watering  places  a  few  days 
since,  though  I  presume  she  has  returned  to  the  city,  as  I 
have  received  her  card  for  next  Wednesday  evening ;  and 
may  I  inquire  if  you  think  of  wasting  an  hour  in  such  a 
way-side  bower?" 

"  That  is  my  intention  now,"  replied  Park,  smiling ;  "  al- 
2 


14  THEMUSTEE,    OR 

though,  generally,  I  take  no  great  pleasure  in  large  parties. 
Yet  it  is  a  part  of  my  system,  as  it  pleases  you  to  call  it; 
for  one  makes  the  acquaintance  of  men  of  business  in  such 
places  who  may  be  shaped  into  clients  by  a  grave  and  taci 
turn  demeanor,  —  which  you  know  is  natural  to  me,  —  with 
careful  and  concise  remark  when  you  can  agree  with  them 
in  opinion.  I  look  upon  this  as  fair  ground,  and  on  it  I 
intend  to  neglect  no  opportunity  of  seed  time,  however  remote 
may  be  the  prospect  of  harvest.  I  suppose,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  I  shall  meet  you  there." 

"  Not  in' that  part  of  the  field,"  said  Featherstone  ;  "  but  in 
the  neighborhood  you  may  —  or  at  least  I  have  so  answered. 
Yet,  your  motives  have  so  changed  its  aspect,  I  fear  I  shall 
not  find  the  pastime  and  entertainment  for  which,  it  seems 
to  me,  such  displays  are  intended.  I  had  thought  chiefly  of 
dancing  and  feeding,  together  with  some  lively  and  interest 
ing  chat  with  youth  and  beauty,  under  circumstances  so  favor 
able  to  the  display  of  their  charms.  But  when  I  think,  as 
your  view  has  made  me  think,  that  success  in  my  profession 
must  be  won  before  I  can  enter  to  compete  for  the  prizes 
which  are  advertised  there,  (for  we  are  about  sure  to  be  told 
what  each  one  is  marked  at !)  it  appears  to  me  it  would  be 
only  an  aggravation  to  look  into  the  market." 

"  Yes  ;  every  thing  is  bought,  though  the  noblest  can  only 
be  paid  for  in  kind,"  replied  Park.  "And  your  reflection 
brings  up  our  starting  point,  namely,  that  business  must  come 
before  pleasure  to  those  who  have  to  strive  for  themselves ; 
or  else  they  must  so  choose  that  their  business  shall  be  their 
pleasure.  Happy  is  he  who  has  found  this  last,  and  all  honor 
wait  on  him  who  patiently  follows  the  first." 

"  I  admit  your  facts,"  said  Featherstone,  "  and  accept  your 
inferences,  and  think  I  see  through  them  as  plainly  as  an- 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  15 

other ;  but  I  do  not  intend  to  be  a  martyr,  and  may  sometimes 
turn  aside  for  recreation,  when  I  believe  it  will  not  seriously 
interfere  with  the  march." 

" 1  may  have  my  dream,  also,"  replied  Park  ;  "  but  I  shall 
not  attempt  to  awaken  to  its  realization  until  the  shadows  of 
the  night  are  passed,  and  a  clear  and  steadily  ascending  sun 
assures  me  of  the  day." 


16  THEMUSTEE,    OR 


CHAPTER    II. 

"  Blood  tells." 

THE  foregoing  interview  and  conversation  occurred  in  the 
city  of  New  York,  some  few  years  since — the  precise  time 
being  of  little  consequence  now,  as  it  will  be  made  sufficiently 
apparent  before  the  speakers  vanish  altogether  from  our  view. 

It  is  not  to  sketch  the  peculiar  features  of  any  singular  and 
extraordinary  crisis,  that  I  take  up  the  pencil  and  unroll  the 
canvas:  they  might  have  appeared  any  time  within  fifty 
years ;  they  may  have  been  seen  yesterday,  they  arrest  the 
gaze  of  the  thoughtful  to-day ;  for  the  laws  which  reveal  them 
are  still  strong  in  the  will  and  high  in  the  sanction  of  the 
makers ;  still  rejoiced  in  by  thousands  who  gather  ease,  lux 
ury,  and  indulgence  from  their  partial  action.  Consequently 
the  elements  from  which  my  story  evolves  have  no  secret, 
mystic  charm ;  for  the  nation  and  the  world  know  them  by 
heart !  Yet,  from  the  ocean-like  vastness  of  the  subject,  there 
is  still  many  an  inlet  unvisited,  where  the  explorer  may  find 
room  and  food  for  meditation,  the  constructor  here  and  there  a 
relic  from  which  he  can  reproduce  the  life  long  since  shrouded 
in  silence. 

It  is  said  that,  amid  the  imperial  splendors  of  her  reception 
by  Napoleon  III.,  the  Queen  of  England  suggested  the  en 
largement  of  the  liberties  of  his  people;  perceiving,  no 
doubt,  that  there  must  be  less  antagonism  in  the  ruling  of 
their  realms,  in  order  to  give  their  alliance  vigor  and  contin 
uance  ;  feeling  that  there  was  something  disingenuous  in  their 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  17 

attitude,  which  would  shake  the  faith  of  their  subjects; 
knowing,  also,  that  professions  of  liberty  will  not  be  accepted 
by  mankind  —  for  whose  opinion  it  has  come  to  be  wise  for 
princes  to  have  a  decent  regard  —  when  any  who  arm  in  its 
cause  are  inclined  to  absolute  rule.  If  this  be  a  truth  of  his 
tory,  as  it  is  of  eternal  logic,  it  should  make  us  blush  for  our 
country,  in  its  present  unmistakable  tendencies.  For  these 
states  are  not  united  for  the  single  purpose  of  a  war,  but  for 
all  the  unfolding,  continuing  influences  of  peace,  and  that,  too, 
in  the  name  of  Liberty.  Consequently,  with  an  emphasis 
that  no  tongue  can  give,  a  single  statute  in  a  single  state 
which  is  in  conflict  with  this  lofty  ideal,  calls  for  the  most 
earnest  and  unceasing  fraternal  exertions  of  every  disciple  of 
the  fathers,  of  every  soldier  of  freedom,  and  of  every  lover  of 
the  enduring  glory  of  the  Union,  until  it  be  erased  from  the 
record. 

Such  a  law  far  oversweeps  its  prescribed  bounds'.  If  it 
repel  some,  it  may  attract  others,  thus  influencing  the  opinion 
and  shaping  the  life  of  the  remotest  American.  Indeed,  one 
of  the  young  men  whose  ideas  and  aims  have  been  laid  before 
you,  will  not  escape  its  quicksands,  although  born  and  nur 
tured  in  a  free  state.  But  I  anticipate. 

Park  and  Featherstone  were  both  reared  east  of  the  Hud 
son.  They  had  been  classmates  in  college,  with  the  exception 
of  one  term  that  Park  passed  with  the  hunters  on  the  prairies, 
on  a  plea  of  health,  which  he  found  in  the  bosom  of  Nature, 
our  true  nurse  and  teacher.  They  had  also  been  fellow- 
students  at  law  during  a  portion  of  their  reading,  and  had 
opened  office  in  the  course  of  the  same  year  in  the  great  mart 
of  our  commerce.  Sprung  of  thrifty  and  forehanded  families, 
yet  of  an  entirely  different  strain,  —  that  of  Featherstone 
being  of  traders,  while  Park's  was  from  farmers,  —  their  cir 
cumstances  were  made  easy  during  their  student-days;  but 
2* 


18  THEMUSTEE,    OR 

the  time  had  arrived  when  they  were  expected  to  take  care  of 
themselves.  Indeed,  they  had  already  so  far  entered  upon  the 
difficult  and  doubtful  struggle,  that  hope  began  to  venture 
forth,  and  catch  glimpses  of  a  fair  prospect.  They  were  not 
better  educated  or  deeper  read,  perhaps,  than  thousands  of 
others  who  start  in  the  great  cities,  and  pass  on  with  the  crowd ; 
but  they  had  that  intuitive  knowledge  of  men,  however  it 
differed  in  degree  and  kind,  from  which  the  most  adroit  find  it 
difficult  to  escape,  and  in  which  the  mass  of  mankind  place 
confidence.  They  both  possessed  personal  attractions  also ;  yet 
in  these  they  differed  as  widely  as  in  their  mental  constitutions. 

Anthony  Featherstone  was  a  little  under  the  medium  height, 
well  made,  though  perhaps  a  trifle  too  full  for  elegance ;  and 
if,  to  the  close  and  critical  observer,  his  extremities  partook  of 
the  same  fault,  he  was  aware  of  it,  and  studied  to  make  them 
appear  comely ;  and,  to  the  common  eye,  he  quite  accomplished 
it.  In  truth,  he  was  particularly  careful  of  the  outward  man ; 
favoring  bright  colors,  it  might  be,  too  much  for  the  severest 
taste,  although  the  world's  passing  glance  was  a  commenda 
tion.  This  he  saw,  and  it  sufficed,  for  it  was  his  aim ;  but  we 
have  raised  him  into  view  for  a  more  searching  scrutiny. 

The  face  of  this  "  fine-looking  man "  —  so  the  multitude 
called  him  —  was  nearer  round  than  oval,  with  a  certain  har 
mony  of  features ;  yet  no  single  one  seeming  as  if  Nature  had 
lingered  over  it  with  her  cunningly-forming  hand.  His  fore 
head  was  ample,  though  not  commanding,  and  around  it  flowed 
hair,  black,  glossy,  and  curling.  His  eyes  were  of  the  same 
dark  hue  and  bright  lustre,  yet  prone  rather  to  enforce  than  to 
win.  Altogether,  he  looked  resolute  and  determined,  without 
any  striking  marks  of  serene  courage  or  soaring  thought.  He 
was  free  and  social,  sometimes  boisterous,  even,  laughing  easily, 
though  not  deeply,  yet  disclosing  such  fine  teeth  in  the  act  as 
to  grace  the  emotion.  If  the  tone  of  his  voice  gave  the  nice 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  19 

ear  a  more  favorable  impression  of  his  lungs  than  of  his  heart, 
it  was  not  without  its  attractions  to  many  a  listener ;  for,  with 
in  certain  limits,  he  was  quick  to  perceive,  and  ready  to  reply, 
sometimes  with  wit,  and  never  without  force  or  meaning.  He 
was  sensitive  to  any  thing  that  looked  like  a  question  of  his 
power,  for  he  estimated  himself  at  his  full  worth ;  and  if  he 
saw  but  a  shadow  of  impertinence,  it  opened  in  him  a  vein  of 
irony  which  was  hard  to  parry  and  difficult  to  answer.  He 
had  other  traits  also  that  keep  one  from  being  the  pet  of  a 
coterie,  or  the  plaything  of  the  idle.  Full  of  vigor,  though  of 
a  carnal  type,  as  if  formed  for  laljor,  even  muscular  exertion, 
you  could  not  look  upon  him  without  being  persuaded  that  he 
had  the  capabilities  for  a  man's  work,  and  would  do  it,  if  cir 
cumstances  so  favored  as  to  draw  him  away  from  the  shoals  of 
appetite  and  the  rocks  of  passion. 

Brian  Park,  whom  the  multitude  thought  plain,  was  of  a 
different  make  and  manifestation.  He  was  much  taller  than 
Featherstone,  with  a  smaller  frame,  and  not  so  robust  of  mus 
cle  ;  paler,  also,  and  with  a  less  roving  glance,  he  passed  un 
measured  by  any,  and  unhonored  by  those  who  ornament  the 
pavement.  Yet  closer  viewed,  his  form,  though  light,  was 
well  proportioned  and  straight  as  an  arrow ;  and  if,  beside 
some,  he  seemed  like  that  winged  shaft,  his  port  gave  you  an 
idea  that,  however  pliantly  he  might  yield  to  grace  and  kind 
ness,  it  would  be  difficult  for  force  to  move  him.  His  face  was 
long  rather  than  oval,  his  jaw  strong,  his  chin  and  lips  firm 
and  finished,  with  hair  so  brown  and  soft  and  long  as  to  subdue 
the  severe  and  mysterious  brow  even  to  gentleness.  His  eyes 
were  gray,  full  and  prominent,  taking  silent  note  of  all  things, 
yet  without  lustre,  except  when  some  strong  emotion  took 
wing  and  came  flashing  up  to  the  light,  to  disappear  on  the 
instant,  or  to  come  forth  in  the  felicitous  phrase  of  a  master. 
His  smile  was  pleasing,  even  warm  and  winning,  although  it 


20  THEMUSTEE,OR 

rarely  overswept  all  the  lines  of  his  thoughtful  features.  Al 
together,  he  seemed  formed  for  repose  in  a  world  of  agitation, 
appearing  as  if  action  were  the  exception  of  his  nature,  and 
gaining  purity  and  power  in  long  periods  of  musing.  Not 
over-fond  of  solitude,  he  yet  coveted  silence,  much  preferring 
it  to  those  cheaply  minted  words  which  form  the  chief  cur 
rency  of  the  hours ;  and,  occasionally,  there  was  something  in 
his  expression  that  showed  how  little  he  valued  such  inter 
course.  This  caused  him  to  be  thought  cold  and  nnsympa- 
thizing  by  the  many  ;  for 

"Your  smilers  guess  not  how 
Beats  the  strong  heart,  though  less  the  lips  avow." 

He  was  not  a  talker,  in  general  society,  however  much  the 
subject  under  discussion  might  interest  him,  although  he  some 
times  uttered  a  pointed  and  vigorous  remark  that  opened  a 
new  view  to  the  discerning.  He  could  also  help  a  good  con- 
verser,  or  confound  a  babbler,  by  the  significance  of  his  man 
ner  of  listening ;  so  that  Pretension  feared  him,  and  even  Gay- 
ety  was  shy,  although  he  did  not  always  decline  her  invitations, 
for  she  knew  his  silken  hand  to  be  sinewed  with  steel,  and  his 
mind  set  on  something  which  she  saw  not  nor  desired  to  see, 
feeling  that  it  was  unsuited  to  her  mirth.  Still,  his  heart  was 
full  of  kindness  to  the  kind  ;  and  if  it  occasionally  led  him  to 
join  in  their  light  laugh,  out  of  a  desire  to  please,  he  found  it 
an  unnatural  or  an  unaccustomed  exercise,  making  his  face 
ache  in  the  effort,  while  it  rang  false  to  his  ear ;  hence  it  soon 
had  an  end.  But  if  he  found  a  thoughtful  person  in  that 
region,  he  possessed  the  power  to  take  her  into  a  more  charm 
ing  circle,  leading  her  down  "  through  Deva's  winding  vales, 
or  by  the  shores  of  old  Romance." 

These  two  young  men  had  long  kept  up  a  kind  of  compan 
ionship,  and  were  friendly  —  not  friends,  certainly,  in  any 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  21 

high  sense  of  the  word,  for  circumstances  threw  them  together, 
as  circumstances,  but  above  all,  development  of  character, 
will  cause  their  courses  to  diverge.  They  were  too  unlike,  or, 
more  strictly  speaking,  too  unequal,  ever  to  have  any  fulness  of 
communication.  Featherstone's  view  of  life,  and  his  opinion 
of  human  nature,  tended  to  make  him  wary ;  for  he  was  gain 
ing  faith  in  the  idea  that  "  men  are  what  they  name  not  to 
themselves,  and  trust  not  to  each  other."  But  Park  was  so 
constituted  as  to  keep  his*  own  counsel,  until  he  should  find  in 
a  wife  a  comprehension  and  a  depth  of  love  such  as  we 
sketch  in  musing,  and  color  in  dreams  —  sacred  pictures,  that 
fill  the  heart  with  yearnings,  and  strengthen  belief  in  the  di 
vine  intimations  of  our  being.  They  were  both  men  of  good 
habits,  as  the  world  gathers  the  evidence  and  gives  its  opin 
ion.  Yet  the  one  could  see  but  little  in  his  own  heart  to  re 
strain  appetite  or  ambition ;  while  the  other,  in  the  earnest 
ness  with  which  he  pressed  forward,  may  have  lost  much  way 
side  beauty,  passing  by  many  a  bower  of  pleasure,  with  his 
eye  fixed  on  some  shining  height,  or  dreaming  of  some  distant 
Eden. 

They  had  already  become  so  much  known  that  business 
began  to  seek  them;  their  days  of  rehearsal  were  passing 
away,  and  the  drama  of  their  lives  was  opening  into  action. 
Its  every  shifting  scene  was  of  vital  importance  to  them,  and 
some  of  the  more  striking  parts  may  not  be  without  signifi 
cance  to  us ;  yet  they  are  only  types  of  a  host  who  are  con 
tinually  passing  from  shadow  to  shadow.  The  temptations 
which  beset  them  were  not  singular,  for  they  have  been  or 
ganized  into  law,  sanctioned  by  custom,  or  excused  by  passion, 
and  are  as  likely  to  catch  us,  or  ours,  in  their  toils  as  either  of 
those  whose  trail  we  are  about  to  take. 


22  THEMUSTEE,     OR 


CHAPTER    III. 

She  spoke,  and  turned  her  sumptuous  head  with  eyes 
Of  shining  expectation  fixt  on  mine.  TENNYSON. 

ON  one  of  those  up-town  avenues,  which  are  now  filled 
with  blocks  of  brown  stone  dwellings  shaped  into  beauty  and 
decorated  with  magnificence  by  the  hand  of  Labor,  and  in 
habited  by  those  who  have  the  cunning  art  of  appropriating 
the  greater  share  of  the  proceeds  of  labor,  stood  the  home 
that  Park  and  Featherstone  had  been  invited  to  enter. 

It  was  a  large,  square  mansion,  having  a  door  in  the  centre, 
with  a  piazza  and  colonnade  running  along  the  front  and  down 
the  sides  ;  and,  sloping  away  from  thence,  there  was  a  strip  of 
velvet  lawn  fringed  with  flowers.  The  house  was  but  two 
stories  high,  and  for  that  reason  it  had  a  look  of  comfort, 
seeming  to  stoop  to  the  passenger  in  friendly  greeting ;  and 
especially  so  on  the  evening  of  the  revel,  when  it  was  flung 
open,  and  every  apartment  and  passage  were  bright  with  hos 
pitable  light.  This  illumination,  together  with  the  unclouded 
rays  of  the  full-orbed  moon,  so  defined  the  features  of  the 
surrounding  space,  that  the  birds  talked  of  it  in  the  shrubbery. 

As  the  favored  guests  passed  into  the  enclosure,  they  invol 
untarily  drew  a  long  breath,  feeling  that  there  was  room  for 
it,  or  because  they  had  more  confidence  in  the  air ;  and  some 
of  the  gentlemen  lingered  a  few  moments  ere  they  entered,  in 
homage  to  that  crowning  grace  of  the  temperate  climes,  a 
luxuriant  turf.  Not  often  can  cities  show  it,  for  the  dust  of 
traffic  is  hostile  to  its  beauty.  But  when  it  does  look  out,  green 


LOVEANDLIBERTY.  23 

and  fresh,  how  the  children  press  their  glad  faces  against  the 
bars  which  protect  it !  how  old  men  pause  upon  their  canes  to 
contemplate  it !  These  last,  indeed,  had  hurried  by  it  for  half 
a  century ;  but  as  their  vigor  abated,  and  their  feet  grew 
weary,  their  greeting  or  their  gaze  became  more  frequent  and 
friendly ;  for  they  mused  and  meditated  that,  when  art,  and 
wealth,  and  affection  could  do  no  more  to  arrest  their  declining 
steps,  Nature,  taking  them  to  her  bosom,  would  lay  over  their 
forms  this  her  final  mantle,  renewing  it  with  the  tears  of  each 
succeeding  spring  time,  and  tenderly  caressing  it  into  beautiful 
unfolding  through  all  her  loving  summers. 

But  the  repose  and  pensiveness  of  the  scene  were  changing. 
The  fashionable  hour  of  reception  had  fully  arrived,  and  car 
riages  were  drawing  up  before  the  gates  in  rapid  succession, 
and  muffled  forms  were  rustling  past,  so  that,  in  the  space  of 
half  an  hour,  most  of  the  guests  had  entered. 

The  announcement  and  the  consequent  ceremony  over,  they 
turned  away  to  give  place  to  others,  joining  some  group  of  their 
particular  "  circle,"  where  they  were  soon  talking  of  the 
beauty  of  the  night,  the  lovely  ride  of  the  morning,  the  opera 
and  the  "  divine  "  performers,  and  the  gayety  of  the  season, 
or  on  some  of  the  less  prominent  topics  which  help  to 
charm  the  hours.  If  there  were  a  few  who  were  too  much 
embarrassed,  or  too  diffident,  for  even  that  line  of  conversa 
tion,  there  was  a  table  quite  loaded  with  engravings,  to  which 
they  could  turn,  and  find  in  them  an  excuse  for  silence,  or  a 
theme  for  remark  when  they  should  calm  their  agitation: 
many  of  these  were  the  most  attractive,  as  their  emotion 
sprang  from  the  freshness  of  their  presence  in  the  gorgeous 
arena,  and  the  supposed  superiority  of  steady  eyes  and  disci 
plined  hearts. 

The  ladies  of  maturer  years  sought  out  comfortable  seats, 
and  those  who  had  son  or  daughter  present  —  though  without 


24  THEMTTSTEE,     OR 

seeming  to  do  so  —  were  approvingly,  or,  it  might  be,  anxiously 
observing  them. 

The  elderly  gentlemen,  some  of  them  thin  and  yellow  with 
application,  disappointment,  or  dyspepsia,  and  others  full  and 
rosy  from  contentment,  dulness,  or  digestion,  having  white 
locks  and  moist  brows,  were  grouped  together,  and  gravely 
discussing  the  success  of  old  projects  and  the  feasibility  of  new 
ones  —  this  man's  gains  and  that  one's  losses ;  in  fact,  taking 
up  the  conversation  at  the  point  where  they  left  it,  at  the  bank 
or  the  insurance  office,  when  they  separated  to  dine. 

Young  men  shunned  that  group ;  and  young  ladies  only 
approached  it  to  vainly  try  to  persuade  their  fathers  to  mingle 
in  their  pleasures  ;  wondering  in  their  light  hearts,  as  they 
turned  away  disappointed,  how  any  one  could  come  to  be  so 
indifferent  to  that  which  to  them  was  a  crown  of  rejoicing,  — 
little  dreaming  that  the  attractions  of  Plutus  charm  longer 
than  those  of  Circe,  and  the  seeming  cold  monosyllables  of 
their  fathers'  speech  were  the  murmurs  of  their  deepest 
love. 

Featherstone  entered  amid  the  press,  and  moved  on  with 
the  current  to  receive  and  give  the  same  greeting  as  they ; 
for  ceremony  should  be  faithful  to  form,  in  word  and  smile, 
that  all  may  feel  an  equal  welcome.  Yet,  as  he  was  a  par 
ticular  acquaintance  of  the  entertainers,  he  remained  near,  and 
took  occasion,  when  the  tide  ceased  to  flow  in,  to  give  and 
receive  the  words  of  friendship  also,  in  their  appropriate  mo 
ments.  Mrs.  Fardel,  indeed,  liked  Featherstone  for  the  zest 
with  which  he  entered  into  every  thing,  even  the  lightest 
amusements,  and  for  a  confidence  that  was  seldom  abashed. 

On  leaving  her,  he  passed  down  the  bright  and  imposing 
circles,  touching  at  the  various  groups,  and  addressing  his  ac 
quaintance  in  a  lively  manner  and  with  an  assured  air,  which 
would  have  made  dull  men  envious  had  he  not  been  politic 


LOVE     AND    LIBERTY.  25 

enough  to  draw  them  out  in  passing ;  thus  giving  an  impetus 
which  kept  them  talking  for  a  few  moments  after  he  had  left, 
and  for  which  they  took  credit,  fancying  it  the  offspring  of 
their  own  minds  !  as  if  a  windmill  could  move  its  arms  with 
out  a  breeze,  or  yield  that  which  could  nourish,  from  the  mo 
tion,  unless  some  grain  be  poured  into  the  hopper. 

Still  farther  on  in  the  evening,  the  last  of  the  guests,  came 
Park  ;  for  he  had  adopted  the  rule  of  Mr.  Pitt,  with  regard 
to  parties  ;  namely,  to  go  late  and  leave  early.  He  entered 
with  that  natural  ease  which  makes  so  apparent  the  over- 
coloring  of  art,  and  passed  on,  amid  the  gay  and  glancing 
groups,  without  recognizing  any  one,  took  his  cousin's  extended 
hand,  and  retained  it  for  a  moment,  while  she  looked  up  to  him 
archly,  rallied  him  on  the  lateness  of  the  hour,  and  chided  him 
for  being  a  recluse. 

"  Not  so  much  so  but  your  kind  invitation  gave  me  pleas 
ure,"  said  he. 

"  Well,  your  eyes  can  kindle  yet,"  she  replied.  "  But  you 
must  not  pore  over  those  dingy  books  so  unremittingly :  they 
will  change  you  to .  parchment.  It  is  the  amusements  of  life 
that  keep  us  young." 

"  Keep  us  smiling,  you  mean.  Yet  I  have  seen  smiles 
which  were  only  the  witnesses  of  a  weary  and  worn-out  na 
ture.  I  will  remain  in  my  closet,  and  plough  my  face  deep, 
ere  such  weeds  shall  flourish  and  fade  there." 

"Ah!  I  cannot  permit  you  to  moralize  now.  I  require 
gayety !  In  the  midst  of  such  waves  you  must  be  light  as 
the  foam." 

"  Then  you  wish  me  to  be  a  bubble  of  the  moment  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  that  is  the  finest  accomplishment  of  the  hour,  and 
one  of  the  most  difficult  of  attainment ;  for,  like  those  airy  noth 
ings,  you  must  instantly  reflect  every  light  and  color,  and  be 
as  brilliant  and  changing." 
3 


26 

"  But  suppose  you  are  before  those  who  have  no  light  or 
color  which  it  would  please  them  to  see  reflected  ?  " 

"  What  a  supposition !  But,  in  that  case,  you  may  float  on 
to  a  fairer  presence.  And  now  I  wish  to  introduce  you  to 
some  friends." 

The  ladies  to  whom  she  presented  Park  were  visitors  in  the 
house  from  a  distant  city,  and  had  that  tact,  vivacity,  and 
graceful  ease,  which  society  cherishes  and  honors :  and  gliding 
into  conversation  with  them,  he  was  borne  like  a  feather  on 
ward,  until  he  wearied  of  the  flash  and  play,  and  felt  the 
limits  to  be  oppressive ;  for  the  tendency  of  his  mind,  how 
ever  lightly  moved,  was  to  sow  truth,  as  the  thistle-down, 
while  seeming  to  wanton  with  the  air,  is  bearing  a  seed  across 
the  continent. 

From  this,  however,  he  was  soon  relieved  by  the  presenta 
tion  of  other  persons.  As  he  turned  away,  Mrs.  Fardel  took 
his  arm,  and,  speaking  low,  said,  "  I  wish  you  would  always 
be  as  interesting:  you  really  charmed  me.  And  you  must 
come  and  dine  with  us  on  Sunday,  for  one  of  my  friends  is  an 
heiress,  and  I  think  she  will  just  suit  you  ;  I  am  certain  that 
it  would  be  a  capital  match.  So,  if  you  see  a  very  beautiful 
young  lady  here,  you  must  remember  that  you  are  engaged." 
And  meeting  her  husband  at  the  moment,  she  added,  "  Love, 
here  is  cousin  Brian  ;  and,  as  he  has  recently  come  in,  I  wish 
you  to  see  that  he  does  not  immediately  disappear." 

The  dapper  little  man  expressed  his  pleasure  at  seeing 
Park  in  his  house  once  more,  and  said,  "  How  singular !  I 
was  thinking  of  you  when  we  met,  as  I  wish  to  introduce  you 
to  one  of  our  city  beauties." 

"  You  are  very  kind.  Yet  I  think  that  I  must  be  excused, 
as  I  am  shy  of  extraordinary  beauty ;  for,  unless  there  goes 
to  it  an  intellectual  strength  great  enough  to  perceive  that  a 
glittering  casket  must  shrine,  a  glorious  gem,  it  can  bring  me 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  27 

nothing  but  disappointment,  not  to  say  disgust ;  as,  after  all, 
Nature  is  so  economical  in  her  giving,  that,  where  I  see  the 
exquisite  fashioning  of  her  hand,  I  doubt  the  inspiration  of 
the  soul." 

"  How  odd  !  "  said  the  host.  "  But  I  do  not  think  she  can 
long  escape  your  keen  eye  ;  and,  if  you  happen  to  change 
your  mind,  I  will  forgive  arid  present  you." 

Park  moved  on  among  the  bright  assemblage,  bowing  to  the 
persons  of  his  acquaintance,  and  giving  his  hand  to  two  or 
three  whom  in  his  heart  he  honored  ;  yet  saying  only  the  con 
ventional  commonplaces  of  the  hour,  as  he  shrank  from  dis 
closing  any  depth  of  tenderness  to  the  worldling's  smile  or 
sneer. 

At  length  he  joined  the  gray  and  faithful  votaries  of  Mam 
mon  ;  and  entering  slowly  and  carefully  into  the  examination 
of  the  projects  which  they  brought  forward,  the  gleam  of  his 
intelligence  lighted  up  whatever  it  touched,  disclosing  sterling 
worth  or  hollow  pretension  at  will.  As  soon,  however,  as  he 
saw  that  he  had  made  the  desired  impression,  and,  by  it,  fully 
accomplished  what  he  called  "the  opportune  and  necessary 
business  of  the  occasion,"  he  felt  at  liberty  to  look  around 
him. 

Moving  from  point  to  point,  now  pausing  at  the  centres  of 
attraction,  and  now  gliding  from  the  circle  of  the  waltzers, 
he  came  near  a  group  who  were  examining  a  copy  of  a  Ma 
donna,  which  had  caught  some  faint  rays  of  the  original  glory 
of  the  master's  canvas. 

The  knot  was  formed  of  four  or  five  young  men  and  a  lady. 
Among  them  Park  noticed  Featherstone  ;  the  others  were  not 
of  his  acquaintance,  being  of  that  exquisite  class  whose  vanity 
leads  them  to  nutter  around  beauty,  and  chatter  of  the  Rhine 
voyage  or  of  Italian  sunsets,  yet  have  no  eye  for  the  Hudson, 
or  for  the  bannered  pomp  which  follows  the  dying  day  over 


28  THE    MUSTEK,     OB 

our  western  hills.  But,  in  this  presence,  they  entered  not  into 
his  thoughts ;  they  were  lost  in  the  radiance  of  beauty ;  for, 
there  before  him,  was  one  who  "  once  seen  becomes  a  part  of 
sight." 

He  had  viewed  many  a  vaunted  beauty,  and  dreamed  of 
Eastern  bowers  and  houris'  charms :  but  this  surpassed  his 
ideal.  Rising  above  the  common  height,  with  every  line  grace 
fully  curved  and  rounded,  and  her  most  fair  complexion 
touched  with  that  luscious  mellowness  of  bloom,  which  only  a 
peach  in  its  summer  ripeness  and  selectest  perfection  could 
approach,  she  dazzled  the  eyes  and  arrested  the  steps  of  Park. 
She  was  so  formed,  you  might  not  say  this  or  that  was  beauti 
ful,  for 

"Each  feature  into  others  flowed, 
As  neck  and  bosom  blended." 

To  keep  the  harmony,  even  the  wealth  of  her  dark  hair  was 
not  displayed,  but  lay  shapely  to  her  perfect  head,  and  coiled 
in  a  Grecian  knot  behind.  Her  robes  were  of  the  purest 
white,  and  as  she  stood  with  one  foot  advanced  so  as  to  dis 
close  its  shape  even  to  the  springing  arch  of  the  instep,  he 
felt  that  she  wanted  nothing  but  the  jewelled  sandal  to  make 
her  the  ideal  of  Athenian  perfection.  And  crowning  all  her 
queenly  charms,  and  inspiring  her  loveliness,  her  ripe  lips 
were  crested  with  thought,  and  her  eyes  were  a-flame  with 
meaning,  as  if  a  Grace  and  a  Muse  were  melted  and  moulded 
into  one. 

As  Park  came  up,  Featherstone  was  lamenting  the  scarcity 
of  good  paintings  in  America,  and  concluded  by  saying,  "  Yet, 
after  all,  it  may  be  well,  for  it  induces  men  to  travel,  which 
may  liberalize  even  more  than  Art  herself.  Still,  her  galleries 
are  among  the  chief  attractions  from  over  the  sea ;  indeed, 
who  is  there  who  does  not  hope,  some  day,  to  see  and  enjoy 
the  riches  of  the  European  collections  ?  " 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  29 

"  I  have  had  such  dreams  and  such  desires,"  she  replied ; 
'*  but  when  I  stand  beside  a  picture  like  this,  I  am  reminded 
of  what  one  of  our  profoundest  thinkers  and  most  original 
poets  has  said  — 

'  Why  need  I  galleries,  when  a  pupil's  draught 
After  the  master's  sketch  fills  and  o'er-fills 
My  apprehension  ? ' ': 

"  That  may  be  true,  and  it  probably  is  the  record  of  a  cer 
tain  mood  of  the  mind,"  said  Featherstone.  "  Yet  there  are 
a  multitude  of  pictures  among  the  vast  number  which  the  cen 
turies  have  sanctioned  that  one  wishes  to  look  upon ;  and  I 
hope,  at  some  future  time,  to  try  all  the  charms  of  their 
variety." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  that  it  might  be  a  pleasing  pastime  to 
rove  like  the  bee  from  flower  to  flower,  seeking  for  beauties  as 
they  search  for  sweets,"  she  replied.  "  Yet  the  long-continued 
earnestness  and  devotion  of  the  great  artists  lead  me  to  hope 
for  some  revelation  of  a  deep  unity ;  it  is  that,  rather  than 
their  variety,  which  would  draw  me  to  visit  and  study  their 
canvas." 

This  remark  seemed  likely,  by  the  way  it  was  received,  to 
change  or  terminate  the  conversation,  as  one  or  two  were 
turning  away,  and  there  was  an  unmeaning  smile  on  the  faces 
of  the  others.  Yet  her  eyes  had  met  Park's  in  the  midst  of 
her  last  reply,  as  it  were  appealing  from  their  inapprehension, 
and  appearing  to  take  cheerful  confidence  from  his  assenting 
glance,  he  turned  to  seek  his  entertainer. 

Finding  him  in  a  moment,  he  said,  "  I  have  come  to  claim 
your  promised  introduction." 

"Ah,  indeed  !  Well,  I  shall  be  most  happy;  but  you  must 
permit  me  to  find  the  fair  lady  first,"  replied  the  smiling  and 
assiduous  host,  as  he  arose  tiptoe  and  looked  around. 

On  which  motion,  Park,  slipping  his  hand  within  the  arm 
3* 


30  THE    MUSTEK,    OR 

of  the  searcher,  said,  "  Let  me  conduct  you  to  her  pres 
ence." 

So,  threading  the  groups,  they  crossed  to  the  Madonna,  be 
fore  which  they  found  her  standing  quite  alone.  Drawing 
near,  their  entertainer  said,  "  Aurelia,  (for  he  was  one  of  those 
who  like  to  take  their  acquaintance  by  their  Christian  names,) 
may  I  be  permitted  to  disturb  your  devotions  ?  "  And  as  she 
turned  upon  him  with  a  smile,  he  continued,  "  Allow  me  the 
pleasure,  Miss  Vernon,  of  introducing  to  yon  my  friend,  Mr. 
Park.  And,  as  the  refreshment  room  will  be  Hung  open  in 
a  few  moments,  let  me  persuade  you  to  walk  in  that  direction ; 
and  as  you  know  the  way  to  reach  it,  Brian,  you  will  excuse 
me,  and  do  the  honors." 

So,  with  rather  an  abundance  of  manner,  he  took  leave, 
when  Park  gave  his  arm  to  Miss  Vernon,  and,  soon  after,  they 
were  partaking  of  ices  and  the  delicious  fruits  of  the  mellow 
autumn. 

They  were  not  long,  however,  in  finding  their  way  back  to 
the  vacant  parlors,  and  into  the  sphere  of  the  Madonna's 
attraction. 

Looking  on  the  painting  with  pleasure,  and  remarking  upon 
it  with  discrimination,  Park  at  length  said,  "  When  I  first  saw 
you,  Miss  Vernon,  you  were  near  this  picture,  and  gave  ut 
terance  to  an  idea  which  so  chimed  with  my  own  fancy  that  I 
made  haste  to  know  you." 

"  I  think  I  observed  you,"  said  she  ;  "  was  it  not  that  sug 
gestion  about  the  unity  of  art,  which  closed  the  conversation, 
and  dissolved  the  circle  ?  " 

"  Yes,  that  was  the  thought,"  Park  replied  ;  "  and  it  was  well 
and  appropriately  said  in  this  presence,  for  the  Madonnas  are 
a  striking  illustration  of  the  truth  of  the  idea,  painted,  as  they 
have  been,  by  so  many  limners,  and  in  such  different  eras,  yet 
all  having  a  family  likeness." 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  31 

"  There  is  yet  a  higher  unity  in  the  Christs,"  said  Miss  Ver- 
non  ;  "  for  the  artists  have  frequently  ventured  to  copy  '  Mary 
Mother '  from  actual  life,  but  rarely  the  Saviour ;  therefore  his 
features  and  expression  are  more  uniform,  because  more  purely 
ideal." 

"  It  is  indeed  true  of  all  that  I  have  seen,  even  to  the  form 
and  softness  of  the  meekly-flowing  hair,"  replied  Park.  "  In 
the  lone  vigils  of  the  great  masters,  so  far  sundered  both  by 
time  and  space,  there  arose  upon  their  vision  the  same  sorrow- 
exalted  soul.  Yes,  mighty  ideas  mould  the  features  of  men. 
The  stern  leaders  of  the  commonwealth  of  England  had  a 
certain  resemblance ;  and  our  Pilgrim  Fathers  as  well.  They 
literally  set  their  faces  to  a  great  work,  so  that  it  entered  into 
their  very  gait,  and  modulated  all  their  steps.  No  artist  can 
ever  make  us  conscious  of  their  indomitable  purpose  and  un 
flinching  aim,  unless  he  traces  their  thought  among  fortified 
features  and  beneath  corrugated  brows." 

"  It  is  a  pleasure  to  feel  that  even  the  hardest  features  will 
change  in  the  fires  of  the  mind  and  heart,  and  how  all  deep 
things  tend  to  unity,"  said  she.  "  In  brightest  hours  I  some 
times  indulge  the  dream  that  I  may  yet  walk  those  distant 
halls,  which  were  hallowed  by  the  victories  of  the  pencil  —  for 
color  is  life  —  when  there  was  a  unity  of  faith  that  gave  the 
inspiration." 

"  Do  you  like  the  studied  forms  and  stately  ceremonial  of 
the  Roman  religion  ? "  Park  inquired. 

"  I  confess  they  charm  me  sometimes,  at  least  away  from 
denunciation,"  she  replied,  "  particularly  when  I  call  to  mind 
through  how  long  and  fiercely  destructive  a  period  she  nursed 
and  fostered  and  gave  shrine  to  art," 

"  Yes,  she  has  done  well  in  some  things,"  said  Park,  "  and 
must  still  continue  to  do,  else  how  could  she  survive  for  a 
single  year  ?  Only  the  manifestation  of  a  fonder  love  and  a 


32  'THEMUSTEE,    OB 

fuller  liberty  can  cast  her  out  from  the  hearts  of  men.  Yet, 
with  the  deep-blue  sky  of  Rome  above  me,  I  should  be  gazing 
upward,  and  would  not  hesitate  to  set  my  foot  on  the  mitre,  if 
I  could  hope  thereby  to  descry  her  ancient  eagles  —  types  of 
that  freedom  which,  to  me,  is  more  desirable  than  all  art,  and 
more  vital  than  any  mere  form  of  worship." 

"  I  believe  that  these  loftiest  of  human  emotions  will  yet 
arise  above  conflict,"  said  she  ;  "  for  when  I  think  how  august 
Liberty  is,  it  appears  to  me  that  she  must  have  a  soul  touched 
with  the  spirit  of  adoration." 

"  I  feel  your  remark  to  be  true,  although  the  histories  of  the 
dead  and  dying  sects  do  not  give  it  confirmation,"  he  replied. 
"  Indeed,  so  far  otherwise  is  it,  that  I  see  Liberty  constantly 
withdrawing  from  the  old  forms,  and  leaping,  with  a  joyous 
pulse,  into  the  new.  Yet,  source  of  doubt  and  sorrow  as  this 
is  to  many,  I  observe  how  the  pinions  of  Hope  have  expanded, 
and  with  what  faith  she  soars,  and  take  heart  for  the  future." 

The  company,  at  that  time,  beginning  to  flow  from  the  re 
freshment  room  into  the  parlors,  and  many  drawing  near,  their 
conversation  closed.  Yet  still  standing  together,  while  the 
young  and  gay  were  forming  to  music  and  gliding  around, 
Park  led  her  to  the  dance.  This  finished,  having  fulfilled  her 
engagements,  she  declined  further  invitations,  and  soon  after 
they  moved  out  through  the  open  casement  on  to  the  piazza, 
and  into  the  soft  evening  air,  —  it  might  be  to  make  room  for 
the  waltzers,  perhaps  for  other  reasons,  —  and  walked  down 
the  path  of  flowers,  bathing  in  the  mystic,  deep-flowing  river 
of  their  perfume.  There  the  night  and  the  distance-mellowed 
music  gave  them  tender,  pensive  thoughts  and  fond  emotions, 
which,  on  many  a  succeeding  day  in  each  of  our  own  sad  his 
tories,  we  have  smiled  or  sighed  away,  as  if  they  were  only 
vapor,  while,  in  reality,  they  were  the  celestial  dews  which 
sought  to  nourish  and  unfold  the  heart's  holiest  blossoms. 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  33 

"  What  a  change,"  said  Park ;  "  and  that,  too,  by  a  single 
step  into  the  presence  of  Night ! " 

"  It  is  indeed  a  star-bright  evening,  and  one  that  suggests 
thoughts  far  different  from  '  On  with  the  dance.'  It  was  a 
feeling  that  the  serene  silence  was  not  in  unison  with  his  lev 
ity,  which  made  Festus  say  — 

'  0  Heaven,  let  down  thy  cloudy  lids, 
And  close  thy  thousand  eyes.' 

What  a  personification !    As  if  the  veiling  of  an  eyelash  could 
quench  the  sidereal  fire !  " 

"  It  is  a  comprehensive  image,"  replied  Park.  "  And  how 
he  tosses  the  systems  asunder  in  these  lines  on  the  final  de 
struction  !  — 

'He  shook 

The  stars  from  heaven  like  rain-drops  from  a  bough  ; 
Like  tears  they  poured  adown  creation's  face.' " 

"  It  does  agitate  them ;  they  seem  to  tremble  on  their 
thrones,"  said  she.  "  What  a  picture,  and  in  what  lightning- 
like  vividness  it  appears ! " 

"  Yes,  in  similitude  he  has  no  superior,  either  in  excellence 
or  affluence,"  Park  replied.  "  The  pages  of  '  Festus '  are 
strown  with  gorgeous  poetry ;  yet  as  a  poem  it  did  not  greatly 
impress  me.  It  is  not  well  constructed;  we  are  not  drawn  to 
its  conclusions.  I  see  the  vision,  but  not  the  faculty  divine* 
With  all  its  sparkling  spray  and  sky-ward  soaring,  it  is  but  a 
fountain,  while  Tennyson's  •  Princess  '  is  a  river  ;  and  though 
winding  amid  tropic  bloom,  and  whirling  with  Orient  passion, 
its  deep  and  onward  current  is  as  resistless  as  the  finest  strains 
of  the  song." 

"  I  like  '  Festus,'  "  said  Aurelia ;  "  and  though  it  does  not 
strike  as  a  whole,  many  of  the  pictures  have  imperishable 
beauty,  like  the  evening  which  is  passing.  How  fresh  the  air 
is,  and  what  a  charming  place,  seeming  as  if  life,  in  such  a 


34  THEMUSTEE,    OR 

home,  might  flow  on  fair  and  bright,  as  in  some  happy  dream. 
What  a  treasure  is  a  little  garden  ground  in  the  midst  of  a 
great  city  !  Are  you  fond  of  flowers  ?  " 

"  Where  they  are  strown  so  profusely  as  here,  I  soon  tire 
of  them.  Yet  when  I  turn  a  page  of  Nature's  volume,  by 
running  water,  or  in  some  gorge  of  the  hills,  I  see  that  they 
are  the  last  touches  of  the  Maker's  hand,  the  perfection  of  his 
style.  I  feel  a  strange  and  pleasing  surprise  whenever  I  come 
upon  the  coy  beauties  in  sequestered  places,  for  there  one  ap 
preciates  their  worth,  and  no  true  admirer-  can  pluck  them, 
seeing  how  it  would  devastate  the  landscape.  If  they  be  sev 
ered  from  the  stalk,  how  quickly  they  droop,  and  fold  them 
selves  up,  as  if  shrinking  from  the  touch !  Yes,  I  may  well 
say  that  I  like  flowers,  for  I  have  looked  upon  and  reclined 
among  them  in  wild  places,  beyond  the  pioneer's  cabin,  and 
passed  on  my  way  leaving  no  soil  upon  their  leaves.  But 
garden  blooms  do  not  so  affect  me ;  they  appear  more  familiar, 
and  will  touch  your  hand,  as  you  pass  near,  caressingly." 

"  I  have  had  but  little  opportunity  to  be  a  companion  of 
nature,"  Aurelia  replied ;  "  yet  I  can  fancy  how  the  floral  color 
might  throw  a  fascinating  smile  over  the  stern  and  rugged  fea 
tures  of  the  wilderness ;  and  I  shall  never  walk  among  field- 
flowers  without  thinking  of  their  modest  grace.  But  are  you 
not  unjust  to  the  pansy  in  its  lowly  bed  ?"  When  stooping, 
she  picked  two  or  three  that  were  near,  and,  placing  them 
amid  some  of  the  lanceolate  leaves  of  the  sweet-scented  ver 
bena,  presented  them  to  Park,  saying,  "  Those  will  fill  a  whole 
house  with  fragrance,  while  the  wild  appeal  only  to  the 
eye." 

Park  received  them  from  her  hand  with  a  thrill  of  pleasure  ; 
and,  as  they  walked  on,  he  selected  a  rose  —  not  one  that 
leaned  near,  but  carefully  chosen,  and  gave  it  to  Aurelia,  say 
ing,  "  It  is  the  queen  of  flowers,  the  first  in  beauty  as  in  wealth 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  85 

of  odor ;  and  may  I  venture  the  hope  that  it  will  be  as  lasting, 
as  a  memento,  as  it  is  true  as  an  emblem  ?  " 

Aurelia  accepted  the  flower,  and  the  words  which  flung  a 
perfume  on  it,  in  a  silence  that  was  audible  with  sweet  accord. 
It  was  one  of  those  moments  around  which,  in  long  after  and 
perhaps  lonely  years,  sad  memory  turns  to  linger  and  to 
mourn  ;  or  a  happier  fate  leads  fond  recollection  there  to  muse 
over  the  sweet  dawning  of  a  lovely  day.  They  were  so 
moved  that  both  sought  to  veil  their  thoughts.  Hence,  when 
they  resumed  conversation,  it  was  of  passing  things,  and,  re 
turning  to  the  house,  they  parted  on  the  piazza,  to  join  the 
gay  and  glittering  crowd  unobserved. 

It  was  but  a  few  moments,  however,  before  Park  departed, 
and  soon  the  company  took  leave.  And  what  a  change  !  The 
rooms  became  silent,  the  lights  burned  dim,  and  then  retreated 
to  distant  chambers,  to  at  length  vanish  away  just  as  maternal 
Night  was  withdrawing  her  stars  from  the  warm  glances  of 
Morning. 

At  that  still  and  most  secret  hour,  Aurelia,  in  the  privacy  of 
her  chamber,  took  the  rose  from  her  bosom,  and  unclasped  her 
snowy  robes,  which,  like  fleecy  clouds,  obscured  the  heaven, 
with  mingled,  if  not  conflicting  emotions,  and  sighing,  said, 
"  0,  would  to  God  that  there  were  but  we  two  in  the  world ! 
then  I  might  venture  to  dream  of  Eden.  Yet  I  must  not,  I 
dare  not,  without  wider  search.  O  that  such  part  should  be 
allotted  to  me  !  but  I  shall  try  to  enact  it,  or  her  frown  will 
visit,  and  her  despair  haunt  and  moan,  even  among  the  leaves 
of  the  myrtle." 


86  THEMUSTEE,OR 


CHAPTER    IV. 

Disguise  e'en  tenderness,  if  thou  art  wise ; 
Brisk  confidence  still  best  with  woman  copes ; 
Pique  her  and  soothe  in  turn,  soon  passion  crowns  thy  hopes. 

BYROX. 

AWAKING  early,  Park  gave  the  cool  hour  of  the  morning 
to  reflection  upon  the  scenes  of  the  night,  for  the  fascinations 
of  congenial  thought,  made  transcendent  by  the  tender  glance 
and  queenly  grace  of  beauty,  had  taken  possession  of  his 
spirit,  and  borne  it  into  that  aerial  .realm  where  Imagination 
lays  out  the  paradise  and  rears  the  palace,  in  which  we  dream 
of  that  supremest  society  —  a  single  chosen  soul.  But  all  its 
"  cloud-capped  towers  "  toppled  and  fell  before  the  glance  of 
Day ;  and  the  host  of  mankind,  resuming  their  march,  broke 
and  trampled  on  buttress  and  foundation,  and  Park  turned 
away  from  the  ruin  to  think  of  the  enchantress. 

So  came  the  questions,  "  Who  is  she  ?  Has  she  drawn  near 
me  for  an  evening's  pastime,  to  return  and  forget  ?  Yet  even 
if  she  fondly  remember  the  hour,  there  are  barriers  between 
us,  there  may  be  lofty  ones,  which  I  shall  be  years  in  bearing 
down ;  and  will  she  cheer  me,  while  I  advance  to  the  onset  ? 
On  the  course,  what  thrilling  music  her  voice  would  be,  what 
reward  her  smile  !  To  feel  that,  by  some  invisible  and  celes 
tial  union,  another  lives  in  our  life,  is  an  inspiring  emotion  ; 
under  its  influence,  what  might  I  not  accomplish  !  Love, 
indeed,  is  the  ultimate  aim  of  us  all ;  but  I  will  not  idly  dream 
of  that  which,  when  we  meet  again,  a  glance  may  determine." 

The  house  in  which  Park  and  Featherstone  boarded  was 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  87 

presided  over  by  a  lady  of  the  name  of  Summers,  a  young 
widow  who  wore  her  weeds  so  coquettishly  and  lightly,  that 
well  nigh  the  wooing  summer  air,  certainly  a  sigh  from  almost 
any  manly  heart,  could  stir  the  dusky  veil,  and  half  reveal  the 
lily  arid  the  rose ;  for  the  coy  May  time  and  the  fresh  June 
had  passed,  and  July  suns  are  magical  in  their  unfolding  in 
fluences.  Indeed,  she  had  quickly  recovered  from  her  connu 
bial  bereavement,  for  she  was  elastic  in  form  and  spirit. 
There  was  a  deal  of  wisdom  in  her  smile  when  things  were 
mentioned  concerning  which  she  knew  little,  but  desired  to 
know  more,  and  a  corresponding  look  of  unrecognition  for 
those  with  which  she  was  familiar,  yet  thought  it  wise  to  ig 
nore.  In  short,  she  was  good-natured  and  cunning,  petite  and 
pretty,  talkative  and  sly,  liking  to  hear  much  and  willing  to 
communicate  something. 

She  was  born  in  the  city,  in  a  family  of  that  numerous  class 
who  claim  to  have  seen  better  days,  and  had  been  taken  from 
a  milliner's  shop  by  a  middle-aged  gentleman  of  dilapidated 
constitution  and  estate,  for  her  skill  in  fascination.  Stimulated 
by  her  charms,  and  urged  on  by  his  failing  physical  and  pecu 
niary  means,  he  sent  her  a  few  terms  to  a  finishing  school, 
married  her  in  her  twenty-first  year,  and  at  twenty-seven  she 
was  a  widow.  Soon  after  she  became  so,  she  consented  to 
take  a  few  friends  into  her  family ;  only  a  "  limited  number," 
however,  for  the  reason  that  her  house  was  small.  Yet  on 
this  account  it  was  a  desirable  place,  and  still  more  that  the 
rooms  were  large,  one  suit  of  which  she  reserved  for  the 
married,  feeling  more  secure  if  there  was  a  man  of  that  class 
near  her ;  while  a  lady,  thus  connected,  was  in  a  way  of 
knowledge  which  is  always  interesting ;  and  so,  occasionally 
unburdening  herself,  sho  could  exchange  commodities  to  ad 
vantage.  The  other  chambers  of  her  house  were  occupied 
by,  or  reserved  for,  single  gentlemen  —  ostensibly  for  the 
4 


38  THE    MUSTEE,   OR 

reason  that  they  were  better  suited  to  their  wants  than  to 
those  of  single  ladies,  but  really,  on  account  of  their  being 
able  to  pay  higher  prices,  and  passing  less  time  in  the  house. 

Mrs.  Summers  was  wont  to  say  of  her  way  of  life,  when 
ever  she  thought  it  worth  while  to  speak  of  it,  "  I  was  induced 
to  take  a  few  friends  to  board  with  me  because  I  felt  lonely 
after  the  death  of  my  husband,  not  from  any  other  motive,  as 
I  owned  the  place,  and  might  have  lived  on  the  income,  had  I 
chosen  to  rent  it :  and  I  continue  the  practice,  partly  from 
habit,  but  chiefly  from  having  learned  that  an  active  life  is  the 
most  cheerful." 

The  truth,  however,  did  not  entirely  come  out  in  her  state 
ment,  as  there  wras  a  mortgage  on  the  estate,  and  she  had 
taken  this  way  to  lift  it,  and  not  without  some  prospect  of  suc 
cess.  She  had  no  children,  and  made  up  her  mind  in  the  out 
set  to  take  none  as  boarders.  Referring  to  them,  she  would 
say,  "  They  are  all  over  the  house,  and  forever  into  something, 
and  damage  furniture  and  waste  food  much  more  than  their 
parents  can  believe,  or  for  which  they  would  be  willing  to  pay." 
Consequently,  when  the  suit  of  rooms  became  vacant,  as  they 
did  by  removal,  or  death,  or  some  other  act  of  nature,  she 
Italicized  in  her  notice,  "  None  but  those  without  children  need 
apply." 

The  etiquette  of  her  table  was  very  carefully  arranged,  like 
many  of  the  class,  it  being  an  attempt  to  make  the  restraint  of 
the  feeble  appear  like  the  repose  of  the  great,  every  thing 
being  reduced  to  the  form  and  precision  of  a  military  drill  — 
every  thing  except  the  conversation ;  and  even  that,  for  the 
most  part,  was  so  constrained  from  its  natural  life  and  motion, 
as  to  be  a  manufacture,  an  imitation,  a  poor  counterfeit ;  yet 
few  are  so  inane  as  to  mistake  the  spurious  metal.  Still,  form 
has  this  virtue,  that  it  tends  to  impose  silence,  which  Mrs. 
Summers  perceiving,  she  closely  adhered  to  it  among  the 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  39 

many,  and  gave  way  all  the  more  freely  to  her  pent-up  spirits 
when  with  the  fe\v. 

Our  two  friends  did  not  appear  to  be  particular  favorites  of 
their  fellow-boarders,  as  they  had  but  little  to  say  to  them ; 
for  Featherstone  was  usually  busy  at  table,  arid  Park  was 
naturally  silent,  —  a  gift  with  which  few  people  sympathize,  — 
and  neither  of  these  characteristics  were  gratifying  to  the 
widow.  Yet  she  wished  them  to  remain,  for  she  saw  that  they 
were  men  of  more  mark  than  the  others  of  her  household,  and 
sought  particularly  to  please  them.  On  this  account,  they  felt 
grateful  to  her,  and,  after  a  few  months,  began  to  indulge  her 
in  conversation,  on  the  departure  of  the  others  from  table, 
though  not  always  in  her  vein ;  and  seeing  that  she  did  not 
quite  understand  them,  it  soon  became  Featherstone's  pleasure 
to  mystify  her  more  deeply  whenever  he  saw  opportunity. 

In  speaking  of  them  to  the  married  lady,  when  conferring 
together,  Mrs.  Summers  would  say,  "  I  dread  Mr.  Park's 
glance  sometimes  when  I  am  talking,  for  it  confuses  and  puts 
me  out,  and  then  he  will  not  say  any  thing  himself.  And  Mr. 
Featherstone  I  do  not  quite  understand,  only  that  he  is  cer 
tainly  hearty,  and  appears  as  though  he  might  be  enterprising" 
emphasizing  the  concluding  word  with  a  smile,  as  if  it  had 
taken  on  a  meaning  like  that  of  "  occupy,"  in  the  days  of  Dame 
Quickly ;  in  which  remarks,  particularly  that  on  Feather- 
frLone,  touching  his  appetite,  there  was  much  truth ;  notwith 
standing  which  he  generally  eked  out  his  day's  rations  with  a 
goodly  number  of  oysters  in  some  "  saloon." 

On  the  morning  following  the  party,  as  Park  sat  waiting  for 
Featherstone  to  finish  his  breakfast,  the  others  having  with 
drawn,  there  was  unusual  animation  on  the  countenance  of  the 
widow,  while  she  inquired,  "  How  did  you  like  the  party  last 
evening,  Mr.  Featherstone  ?  " 

"  I  relished  some  portion  of  it,"  he  replied. 


40  T  H  E 

"  Did  you  not  enjoy  it  all  ?  "  inquired  she.  "  I  fancied  it 
would  be  a  delightful  reunion ;  and  I  hope  you  will  be  so  kind 
as  to  give  me,  who  have  withdrawn  from  the  gay  world,  the 
pleasure  of  hearing  what  particularly  impressed  you." 

"  I  should  like  to  give  you  pleasure,"  replied  Featherstone  ; 
"  but  in  the  case  to  which  you  refer,  as  it  made  no  especially 
delightful  impression  on  me,  I  am  at  a  loss  to  know  how  I  can 
convey  such  to  another ;  and  you,  of  course,  would  not  wish 
me  to  criticise  or  disparage  that  which  was  so  freely  given." 

"  You  do  not  mean  to  say,  Mr.  Featherstone,  that  you  did 
not  enjoy  yourself  there !  I  heard  that  it  was  to  be  a  very 
elegant  entertainment." 

"  0,  as  to  the  table,  that  was  various  and  magnificent,"  he 
replied. 

"  Indeed !  "  she  emphasized  ;  yet  quickly  added,  in  a  softer 
tone,  "  but  you  certainly  can  tell  me  who  appeared  to  be  the 
belle  of  the  evening  ?  " 

"  That  is  dangerous  ground,"  said  Featherstone  ;  "  as,  by 
so  doing,  I  might  offend  many  others  ;  and  then,  at  our  next 
meeting,  I  should  have  a  cold  shoulder  served  up  to  me,  to  the 
injury  of  my  appetite." 

"  That  would  really  be  a  misfortune  ! "  retorted  she,  with  a 
wider  meaning  in  her  glance  than  he  had  intended  to  give 
to  his  remark.  Whereupon  she  added,  "  Yet  I  do  not  see 
why  you  need  fear  it,  unless  you  suppose  that  I  would  repeat 
your  conversation." 

"  I  have  no  apprehension  of  that,"  he  replied.  "  And  were 
we  alone,  I  should  take  pleasure  in  gratifying  your  desire  ; 
but  Park's  judgment  is  so  much  superior  to  mine,  that  I  defer 
to  it.  You  must  ask  him." 

"  If  I  wished  for  a  legal  opinion  I  think  I  should,"  she 
quickly  returned  ;  "  but  in  fashion  and  pleasure  I  thought  you 
more  likely  to  give  me  information." 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  41 

"  It  is  unfortunate  to  be  so  misunderstood ;  and  I  have  no 
doubt  but  that  he  would  be  pleased  to  undeceive  you  in 
regard  to  his  tastes ;  for  he  kneels  at  the  shrine,  while  I  only 
venture  into  the  vestibule." 

Perceiving  at  what  Featherstone  was  aiming,  Park  imme 
diately  said,  — 

"  I  fancy  something  must  have  gone  wrong  last  evening 
with  Mr.  Featherstone  ;  and  it  may  be  that  I  can  give  the 
information  which  he  seems  to  evade,  rather  for  his  own 
amusement  than  yours."  And,  thinking  over  the  matter  rap 
idly,  it  occurred  to  him  that  it  was  a  favorable  opportunity 
to  sound  the  widow  for  any  knowledge  she  might  have  of  the 
family  of  the  person  in  whom  he  had  becooyp  so  suddenly  and 
so  deeply  interested  —  and  not  without  hope  of  acquisition,  as 
Mrs.  Summers  was  one  of  that  class  who  know  a  little  about 
a  multitude  of  people.  With  such  end  in  view,  he  only  made 
this  general  remark  :  "  The  party  was  a  brilliant  one  ;  so 
much  so,  indeed,  that  it  was  all  that  the  receiver,  or  even 
the  giver,  could  desire."  Thereupon,  as  he  perceived  that 
Featherstone  supposed  he  would  evade  or  defer  the  point  to 
which  he  had  turned  the  inquiry,  he  immediately  added,  "And 
among  the  beautiful,  although  I  may  not  have  seen  all,  I  ven 
ture  to  say  that  a  Miss  Vernon  was  conspicuous.  And  to  this 
Mr.  Featherstone  I  think,  will  assent,  as  I  saw  him  lingering 
around  the  '  vestibule.' " 

"  I  only  observed  her  a  moment,  as  I  found  that  she  was  a 
transcendentalist,"  Featherstone  replied. 

"  What  is  that,  pray  ?  "  inquired  Mrs.  Summers. 

"  Something  which  I  do  not  understand,  neither  am  I  de 
sirous  to,"  said  Featherstone ;  "  as  it  is  mystery  beyond  flesh 
and  blood,  and  I  am  not  yet  ready  to  part  from  those." 

"  Vernon  ? "  said  the  widow,  turning  to  Park.  "  I  once 
knew  a  family  of  that  name ;  and  the  old  gentleman  used  to 
4* 


42  THEMUSTEE,    OR 

look  into  our  window  frequently.  They  had  a  daughter  Au- 
relia.  Is  thafc  the  name  of  your  beauty  ?  " 

"  I  think  I  heard  her  so  called,"  replied  Park  ;  "  yet  I  may 
have  misunderstood." 

"  Aurelia  Vernon  !  "  said  the  widow.  "  Well,  I  should  not 
be  surprised,  as  she  must  be  twenty  years  of  age  now,  and  she 
had  a  bright  face  then.  If  it  is  that  family,  I  remember  them. 
Indeed,  I  knew  much  of  them  formerly,  as  we  lived  on  the 
same  street.  They  once  had  wealth,  and  consequent  station, 
but  lost  them  without  losing  their  pride  ;  and  if  their  daugh 
ter  has  beauty,  hope  clings  to  it,  and  is  leading  it  to  the 
market.  Poor  girl !  she  has  got  a  difficult  part  to  play. 
Pray,  how  was  ^he  dressed  ?  " 

"  Very  perfectly,"  replied  Park. 

"  But  I  mean,"  said  the  widow,  "  what  did  she  wear  ?  " 

"  White,"  he  answered. 

"  It  is  her  style  of  dressing,"  cried  the  widow,  laughing, 
"  that  I  wish  to  know.  How  perverse  you  are  ! " 

"  If  you  desire  me  to  descend  to  particulars,"  replied  Park, 
"  I  must  say  that  my  observation  did  not  extend  so  far ;  be 
sides,  it  seems  to  me  that  people  are  well  dressed  only  when 
particulars  are  not  noticeable,  as  in  a  perfect  face  we  do  not 
find  peculiar  features." 

"  You  certainly  observed  whether  she  wore  short  sleeves 
or  long,  high  or  low  neck !  "  said  she ;  "  and  what  jewels  — 
but  those  she  would  not  be  likely  to  wear,  for,  if  they  have 
any,  they  are  too  old-fashioned  now  to  be  displayed  with  any 
pleasure." 

"I  cannot  call  to  mind  the  particular  cut  of  her  dress," 
replied  Park  ;  "  yet  your  suggestions  may  help  me  out,  as  I 
have  a  lingering  recollection  of  very  charming  flesh ;  and,  if 
I  saw  none,  where  did  I  get  the  impression  ?  And  concern 
ing  gems,  I  think  that  she  favored  them  ;  but  they  were  of  a 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  43 

subdued  character,  and  did  not  mar  the  harmony  of  her  toilet 
—  a  ring  wrought  up  to  a  perfect  hand,  clasping  a  single  pearl, 
and  a  bracelet  of  those  *  tears  of  the  Orient/  set  with  the  same 
pleasing  art,  were  put  to  shame  upon  her  arm  and  finger." 

"  Then  I  venture  to  say  they  were  borrowed  for  the  occa 
sion  ! "  said  she. 

"  Is  that  a  common  custom  among  ladies  ?  "  questioned  Park. 

"  Ay,"  she  replied,  ("  as  Mr.  Forrest  says  in  the  play,)  it  is 
common." 

"  Did  Mr.  Vernon  amass  property,  and  then  have  the  mis 
fortune  to  lose  it  ?  "  Park  inquired. 

"  O,  no,"  she  explained ;  "  had  that  been  the  case,  he  would 
have  returned  to  business,  and  tried  to  rise  again,  instead  of 
lying  idle,  or  sauntering  listlessly  along  the  busy  streets.  His 
fortune  came  by  inheritance.  Mr.  Vernon's  father  left  him  a 
large  estate  ;  but  some  ten  or  twelve  years  since  —  for  it  was 
in  my  school  days  —  it  was  talked  of  as  quite  gone.  Their 
horses  and  carriages  disappeared,  and,  although  the  house 
was  in  some  way  secured  to  Mrs.  Vernon,  their  manner  of 
living  was  entirely  changed.  Their  name  was  removed  from 
the  door,  the  blinds  were  closed,  and  the  dust  was  allowed  to 
gather  on  them  just  as  if  no  one  dwelt  there ;  so  that  it  seemed 
a  gloomy  place  even  in  the  daytime,  and  in  the  night  it  was 
really  dismal.  And  their  daughter,  when  she  returned  from 
school  or  church,  always  passed  down  an  arch,  and  entered 
into  a  low  door  away  in  the  rear.  So  it  is  very  plain  to  be 
seen  that  it  is  a  condition  to  which  they  have  never  become 
reconciled ;  and  you  may  be  sure  that  hope  broods  over  the 
beauty  of  Aurelia,  —  for  she  is  an  only  child,  —  and  dreams 
that  it  may  yet  restore  the  faded  splendor." 

"  Are  you  acquainted  with  Mrs.  Vernon  ?  "  inquired  Park. 

"  I  used  to  see  her  occasionally,"  the  widow  answered ;  "  but 
she  is  one  of  those  dark,  mysterious,  unbending  women  who 


44  THEMUSTEE,     OB 

silently  carry  their  point,  regardless  of  tears  or  entreaty.  Is 
it  not  strange  that  a  mother  should  think  more  of  money  than 
a  father  does,  as  a  motive  to  the  marriage  of  a  daughter  ?  " 

"  If  we  examine  their  different  situations,"  replied  Park, 
(quite  willing,  now,  to  draw  the  conversation  from  personal  to 
general,)  "  and  reason  from  them,  it  does  not  appear  partic 
ularly  surprising,  for  man  has  many  resources.  His  mind 
gathers  vigor  as  it  stretches  out  to  measure  the  return  of 
voyages,  or  bends  to  comprehend  the  result  of  speculations, 
although  he  have  no  object  but  money  :  while  woman  is  well 
nigh  restricted  to  spending  it ;  and,  if  supplied  in  profusion, 
it  is  apt  to  lead  into  fashionable  frivolity,  which  wastes  the 
substance  of  the  mind  and  perverts  the  judgment.  When  a 
family  of  this  kind  fall  by  mercantile  disaster,  or  sink  down 
through  foolish  expenditure  and  display,  the  husband  and  father 
sees  before  him  a  wide  field  for  activity,  with  increasing  motive 
to  enter  it ;  while  the  wife  and  mother  has  but  little  employ 
ment  save  to  mourn  over  the  ruins — as  neither  hand  nor 
mind  has  been  trained  to  the  arts  of  reconstruction.  It  is 
this  inability  to  create  wealth  which  makes  her  over-estimate 
its  consequence,  and  display  so  little  wisdom  in  its  use. 
And  if  she  be  one  of  those  ladies  whose  faith  and  hope 
are  exclusively  in  *  ton,'  —  a  prevailing  religion  !  —  she  sighs, 
and  ponders,  and  looks  back.  Weak  in  all  things  but  pride 
and  mortification,  such  persons  have  no  resource  save  to 
dream  of  the  vanished  show  and  the  departed  pleasure  — 
unless  they  have  a  child  that  they  can  lead  to  the  altar  and 
sacrifice  for  their  restoration.  For  this  reason,  if  for  no  other, 
they  should  have  a  more  rational  education,  and  a  wider  arena 
for  their  faculties." 

"  Woman's  rights  !  "  cried  Featherstone.  "  Yet  the  day  of 
any  material  change  in  their  condition  is  far  distant,  as  the 
world  is  not  a  yielding  mass  for  every  dreamer  to  mould  to 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  45 

what  fantastic  shape  he  pleases,  but  keeps  its  form  with  tough 
determination.  And,  as  at  present  constituted,  it  will  con 
tinue  to  play  the  game  of  life  as  it  has  done,  with  a  very 
delectable  talk,  no  doubt,  of  making  hearts  trumps  !  yet  always 
turning  up  a  diamond  whenever  it  be  possible,  not  hesitating 
to  take  it  from  the  bottom  of  the  pack,  even.  How  long  have 
you  been  an  advocate  of  woman's  rights,  Park  ?  " 

"  Ever  since  I  saw  and  reflected  upon  the  inevitable  ten 
dencies  of  the  system  of  her  education  ;  not  in  schools  alone, 
but  in  almost  every  home,  where  lessons  are  more  deeply  im 
pressed,"  he  replied.  "  And  if  those  so  educated  at  length 
come  to  think  and  intelligently  examine,  the  most  startling 
revelation  of  all  will  be,  how  entirely  dependent  they  have 
been  taught  to  live.  Whereas  all  education  is  but  enforced 
weakness,  which  does  not  place  in  the  power  of  the  pupil  the 
means  of  becoming  more  independent  —  its  long  catalogue  of 
accomplishments  is  only  for  a  lure  and  a  snare.  When  a 
worthy  development  shall  be  the  aim  in  her  training,  a  wider 
sphere  must  come  also ;  and  not  only  the  form  and  the  mind, 
but  every  fibre  of  the  affections,  will  gain  strength  and  grace 
thereby." 

"  Would  you  have  them  crowd  around  the  ballot  box,"  asked 
Featherstone,  "  and  fight  for  their  favorite  condidates  ?  " 

"  Do  not  slander  woman  by  suggesting  that  she  would  act 
like  man  ! "  said  Park.  "  On  the  contrary,  it  is  my  conviction 
that,  if  she  were  to  vote,  it  would  so  humanize  and  elevate  the 
electors  and  the  elected,  as  to  arrest  the  downward  tendencies 
of  the  nation.  If  you  will  but  look  around,  you  can  see  that 
the  associations  from  which  she  is  excluded  do  not  keep  the 
purity  and  elevation  incident  to  her  presence.  And,  sneer  at 
it  as  we  may,  she  is  the  last  hope  of  freedom ;  a  mighty  force 
not  yet  called  into  complete  action  ;  a  power  full  of  heavenly 
beneficence.  Such  is  her  nature  that  she  takes  no  part  in 


46  THEMUSTEE,     OR 

destruction  —  if  she  follow,  it  is  to  mitigate  the  woe.  Behold 
her  amid  the  carnage  and  cries  of  battle,  or  where  the  fever 
and  pestilence  more  silently  slay,  and  ask,  Who  among  men 
equals  her  in  self-sacrifice  ?  Who  so  resolutely  follows  the  mo 
nitions  of  conscience  ?  Who  so  calmly  takes  the  path  of  duty 
and  eternal  right,  and  in  a  spirit  so  gentle  and  devoted,  so 
meek  and  unwearying  ?  " 

"  I  scarcely  meant  to  be  serious  in  what  I  said,"  Feather- 
stone  replied ;  "  and  there  may  be  something  in  your  idea : 
it  certainly  sounds  very  well,  like  all  new  theories ;  yet  I 
should  be  a  little  afraid  to  set  it  in  operation.  However, 
there  is  no  immediate  danger ;  as  the  ladies  themselves,  for 
the  most  part,  oppose  the  movement  —  preferring,  I  have  no 
doubt,  to  have  some  one  to  look  up  to  and  lean  upon." 

"Yes,  indeed,  I  am  sure  they  do  !"  said  the  widow  ;  "  and, 
after  all,  it  seems  to  me  to  be  their  natural  sphere." 


LOVE     AND    LIBERTY.  47 


CHAPTER    V. 

v 

What  are  our  hopes  ? 

Like  garlands  on  Affliction's  forehead  worn, 
Kissed  in  the  morning,  and  at  evening  torn. 

DAVENPORT. 

RISING  from  the  breakfast  table,  they  left  the  widow  better 
pleased  with  them  than  she  had  ever  been  before,  and  half 
regretting  the  sharp  replies  she  had  given  Featherstone,  as 
she  thought  of  his  fresh  and  rosy  face  and  warm  expression, 
and  particularly  of  the  sadly  reproachful  glance  which  he  gave 
her  at  the  moment  of  leaving.  But  neither  Park's  conversa 
tion  nor  his  person  interested  her  enough  to  be  recalled  ;  his 
pale  and  expressive  face  was  beyond  her  range. 

Turning  down  Broadway,  Park  and  Featherstone  called  at 
the  post  office,  found  letters,  and  passing  on  to  the  building  in 
which  they  had  rooms,  each  retired  to  his  own,  to  see  if  any 
memorandum  claimed  attention,  to  learn  of  the  porter  if  there 
had  been  any  calls,  to  peruse  their  correspondence  and  the 
morning  papers.  Although  they  found  nothing  pressing,  the 
day  did  not  pass  without  business  —  which  was  received  with 
a  thrill  of  pleasure  by  them  ;  for  first  clients  excite  the  legal 
aspirant  as  much  as  it  does  the  country  boy  to  entrap  his  first 
rabbit ;  and  we  might  run  the  parallel  still  farther,  when  we 
reflect  how  likely  both  are  to  be  skinned,  were  it  not  quite  too 
obvious  to  require  more  than  a  passing  allusion. 

In  the  course  of  the  morning,  Park  had  a  call  from  a  gen 
tleman  by  the  name  of  McRae,  who  lived  in  Greenville,  and 
laid  claim  to  a  large  estate  in  that  town,  of  which  others  were 


48  THEMUSTEE,    OR 

in  possession  —  a  case  where  the  evidence  relied  upon,  al 
though  appearing  of  record,  was  in  language  so  ambiguous  as 
to  require  the  most  careful  analysis  of  a  complicated  act  of 
conveyance,  to  be  followed  by  long  and  laborious  investigation 
of  favoring  and  opposing  judicial  reasoning  and  decision. 

Featherstone  received  a  visit  from  parties  who  desired  him 
to  draw  up  an  agreement,  into  which  they  proposed  to  enter. 

When  the  occupation  of  the  day  was  over,  and  the  hour  of 
dining  had  nearly  arrived,  Featherstone  called  at  Park's  office, 
that  he  might  have  his  company  in  walking  to  their  board 
ing  house.  As  he  entered,  he  inquired,  "  How  is  business 
this  morning  ?  " 

"  It  comes  slowly  round  this  way,  as  Coleridge  said  of 
spring,"  replied  Park.  "  I  have  passed  the  day  in  the  exam 
ination  of  a  claim,  which  I  think  is  promising,  quite  prom 
ising.  But  what  have  you  found  which  makes  you  look  so 
conscious  of  success  ?  You  carry  that  slender  cane  as  though 
it  were  a  sceptre  !  " 

"  Me  !  "  said  Featherstone  ;  "  I  have  only  drawn  an  agree 
ment.  It  is  rather  an  important  one,  however,  and  I  think  it 
very  likely  that  I  have  drawn  it  wrong,  as  my  thoughts  were 
elsewhere :  if  I  have,  I  hope  you  will  make  two  or  three 
thousand  dollars  assaulting  or  defending  it,  some  day." 

"  One  would  suppose  that  you  were  about  to  retire  from  the 
profession,"  said  Park,  "  if  he  might  judge  from  your  tone  and 
style  of  remark  ! " 

"  Have  you  any  rich  relations  ?  "  inquired  Featherstone. 

"  I  am  not  aware  of  any  such  connection,"  said  Park  ;  "  or 
at  least  none  who  would  be  willing  to  enhance  my  income  so 
much  that  I  should  be  likely  to  find  trouble  in  spending  it. 
Have  you  found  such  a  one  ?  " 

"  I  cannot  say  precisely  what  I  have  found,"  replied  Feath 
erstone  ;  "  for  it  lacks  the  confirmation  of  death  or  title  deed ; 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  49 

therefore  you  perceive  it  can  be  now  only  a  good  intention ; 
but  it  looks  well,  and,  as  you  just  said  of  your  case  in  chancery, 
is  promising,  quite  promising.  It  makes  its  appearance  in 
black  on  white,  also,  being  in  the  form  of  a  letter  from  the 
Crescent  City.  So  I  think  it  good  for  a  pleasant  journey  and 
a  gay  winter,  if  not  more." 

Upon  which,  taking  a  seat,  he  drew  out  the  letter,  and,  hand 
ing  it  to  Park,  continued,  "  If  you  will  oblige  me,  I  should 
like  to  have  your  opinion  on  the  prospect." 

Park  took  the  proffered  document,  and  read,  — 

"  NEW  ORLEANS,  September  20,  184—. 

"  Dear  Sir :  Since  my  return  from  the  north,  I  have  been 
revolving  in  my  mind  the  idea  of  withdrawing  from  active 
business  ;  and  I  should  like  to  have  you  leave  your  profession, 
if  you  are  not  greatly  attached  to  it,  and  enter  our  house,  with 
a  view  to  the  succession.  I  hope,  at  least,  that  you  will  so  far 
entertain  the  proposition  as  to  come  out  and  pass  the  winter, 
and  see  if  the  place  and  the  occupation  be  agreeable  to  you. 
If  they  should  not  prove  so,  you  can  return  at  your  pleasure ; 
and,  whichever  you  may  choose,  you  will  find  in  me  a  friend. 
"  With  expectations  of  soon  meeting  you  here,  I  remain 

"  Truly  yours, 

"Rurus  MERTON. 
"  Anthony  Featherstone,  Esq.,  New  York." 

"  Short,  but  certainly  very  promising,"  said  Park,  as  he  re 
turned  the  letter.  "And  I  advise  you  to  comply  with  the 
terms,  which,  I  have  no  doubt,  you  made  up  your  mind  to  do 
on  the  first  reading ;  merely  asking  advice,  as  most  men  will 
of  their  friends,  to  see  how  it  agrees  with  their  own  determina 
tion  !  But  who  is  this  Mr.  Merton  ?  He  writes  as  though  he 
was  not  only  an  acquaintance,  but  a  connection." 
5 


50  THEMUSTEE,     OB 

"  He  was  born  in  New  England,"  replied  Featherstone. 
tl  He  used  to  come  to  my  father's  house,  occasionally,  during 
my  boyhood ;  he  also  called  upon  me  once  while  I  was  in 
college,  and  I  dined  with  him,  at  the  Astor,  this  past  summer. 
He  was  second  cousin  to  my  mother,  and  I  believe  was  partial 
to  her  in  their  early  days.  But  he  went  south  before  coming 
of  age,  where,  engaging  in  business,  he  devoted  himself  to  its 
many  cares  until  he  had  acquired  what  he  thought  a  compe 
tent  income  for  marriage,  when  he  came  north  to  find  my 
mother  a  bride.  Whether  she  felt  any  regret  for  the  irre 
trievable  step  which  she  had  taken,  I  never  knew.  She, 
however,  always  welcomed  Mr.  Merton  with  sad  sweelness  ; 
and  I  can  look  back  now  and  see  that  he  was  very  tender. 
Indeed,  he  must  have  felt  that  he  had  no  cause  to  blame  her, 
as  they  had  parted  making  no  declaration ;  while  he  was  ab 
sent  long  enough,  without  writing,  for  her  to  have  obtained  a 
legal  separation,  had  she  been  his  wife.  Still,  I  can  see  it 
was  on  that  youthful  attachment,  more  than  in  any  consan 
guinity,  that  the  favor  and  kindness  flourished,  strengthened 
as  it  was  by  occasional  visits,  and  kept  in  thought  by  semi 
annual  correspondence.  And,  although  she  sleeps  in  the  village 
cemetery,  it  seems  that  the  sentiment  survives,  and  now  he 
solicits  me  to  become  its  recipient.  So,  the  testimony  being 
all  in,  what  do  you  think  of  the  case  ?  'x 

"  It  appears  to  me  to  be  a  good  one,"  replied  Park. 
"  Hence  I  believe  that  you  will  give  it  your  most  careful 
and  skilful  attention  until  you  have  won  it.  When  do  you 
leave  us  ?"  A  .'• 

"  In  a  few  days." 

"  That  will  not  only  surprise  but  disappoint  Mrs.  Sum 
mers." 

"  Why  so  ?  "  inquired  Featherstone,  slightly  coloring. 

"  Because  she  has  designs  upon  your  heart  which  absence 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  51 

will  frustrate  :  if  you  continued  near  the  vestibule,  I  think  you 
would  be  drawn  to  the  shrine." 

"  Very  fair !  Yet  not  true ;  for  she  replies  to  me  too 
sharply." 

"  With  the  tongue,  but  not  with  the  eye  !  That  sharpness 
is  tfie  principal  evidence  on  which  I  base  my  opinion,  as  she 
is  one  of  those  whose  emotions  quicken  their  wits.  And  a 
little  disguise  pleases  her,  as  a  petted  dove  pecks  at  the  hand 
by  which  it  would  be  caressed." 

In  a  few  moments  thereafter,  the  two  lawyers  were  out  and 
walking  up  Broadway  together. 

The  bracing  air  and  the  bright  sun  of  the  early  October, 
and,  above  all,  the  throng  of  "ladies  clad  in  colors  bright," 
made  that  broad  pavement  very  attractive ;  while  the  dawning 
fortunes  of  Featherstone  showed  it  to  him  finer  than  ever, 
inspiring  him  to  feel  as  might  an  ancient  Roman,  who  had 
just  been  initiated  into  that  "  order  "  whose  talisman  was  the 
secret  name  of  the  Eternal  City.  Under  this  new  influence, 
beauty  appeared  more  beautiful ;  the  long  lines  of  imposing 
palaces  more  accessible;  the  high-mettled  horses,  with  all 
their  costly  caparison  and  flashing  equipage,  more  desirable ; 
and  even  the  armorial  bearings  and  blazonry  more  significant ! 
for,  hitherto,  he  had  felt  compelled  to  resist,  and,  sometimes, 
defame  their  charms  ;  but,  in  that  hour,  his  blood  was  beating 
high  with  the  vision  and  the  hope  of  possession.  So,  feeling 
the  secret  ties  of  union  and  ultimate  fellowship,  he  was  ready 
to  defend  the  order. 

If  Featherstone  had  been  long  in  training  for  an  Olympic 
game,  it  was  to  enter  the  arena  where  strength  and  skill 
alone  avail ;  and  if  he  had  dreamed  of  a  victor's  wreath,  the 
day  of  the  crowning  was  far  on  in  time.  But  now,  and 
swiftly,  — 

"  As  from  the  stroke  of  the  enchanter's  wand,"  — 


52  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

he  beheld  a  princely  charioteer  stoop  from  his  triumphal  car, 
to  present  to  his  hand  the  reins  of  steeds  formed  for  success 
and  foaming  for  the  course.  As  he  thus  stood  upon  the 
the  brink  of  fruition,  there  opened  a  gorgeous  prospect  — 
making  the  air  more  vital  and  his  step  more  elastic ;  while  the 
silent,  immeasurable,  wide-arching  sapphire  put  on  a  more 
friendly  aspect,  and  bent  over  him  as  though  he  had  grown 
precious  in  nature,  or  was  more  worthy  of  protection  ;  for  we 
ourselves  contain  and  call  forth  the  colors,  sweet  as  the  palpi 
tations  of  divinest  music,  or  sombre  and  sad  as  the  shades 
with  which  imagination  has  touched  the  woe  of  eternal  gloom. 
Look  where  we  may,  we  can  see  little  save  the  hues  of  our 
own  spirits.  The  magical  perspectives  of  the  various  land 
scape,  night's  infinite  hosts,  with  their  far-flashing  crests,  fail 
never  to  visit  the  eye ;  but  unless  some  strong  emotion  flings 
wide  our  brazen  gates,  they  pass,  and  paint  no  pictures. 

Park,  also,  had  his  dream  —  a  dream  that  closed  his  eyes  to 
all  this  material  splendor.  For  a  spirit  hand  was  playing, 
where  none  but  he  might  hearken,  the  enchanting  prelude  to 
the  highest  harmony  of  which  the  heart  is  capable.  There,  to 
its  witch-notes,  as  rose  the  walls  of  Thebes  to  the  tones  of  the 
lyre  of  Orpheus,  a  temple  was  shaping  itself  either  for  a 
shrine  or  a  sepulchre.  And  to  it  a  form  was  drawing  near, 
before  which  the  incense  of  life  will  be  burned,  unless  found 
unworthy  or  unresponsive.  If  it  be  ,so,  however  fair  the  en 
chantress,  true  strength  can  lead  her  forth,  and  wave  her  from 
the  sacred  place ;  while  time  and  aspiration  will  yield  a  dearer 
dweller  or  a  noble  recompense  —  one  of  these,  whoso  has 
faith  and  continuance  shall  surely  win.  But  full  often  is  the 
temple  closed  on  the  first  disappointment,  and  a  house  built 
beside  it  for  the  daily  life  too  low  for  Love  to  enter.  Can 
there  be  any  wreck  so  disastrous  ?  Yet  behold  the  coast ! 

Well  may  we  study  the  one  for  whom  we  rear  this  struc- 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  53 

ture ;  as  the  riches  of  our  nature  must  go  to  form  its  walls, 
and  Hope  may  fold  her  wings  within  the  dome,  while,  in  all 
meditative  hours,  Thought  wtll  lead  us  down  its  sunny,  or 
silent,  or  gloomy  aisles,  to  cheer,  to  sadden,  or  to  petrify. 

But  these  introspections  and  forebodings  were  not  of  their 
mood  —  are  not  woven  among  the  golden  threads  of  their 
dreaming.  To  them  it  was  a  high  and  a  lordly  hour ;  full 
likely  none  more  charming  will  they  ever  behold  —  for  they 
saw  not  all  which  we  sec,  who  are  gazing  when 

"  Young  Harry  Percy's  spur  was  cold." 

At  length  they  came  out  of  their  musing ;  but  it  was  only  to 
speak  of  trite  and  fleeting  circumstance,  for  neither  thought  of 
bringing  forth  the  treasures  of  his  meditations. 

Having  entered  the  house,  they  found  that  their  long  con 
sultation  at  the  office  had  detained  them  beyond  the  dining 
hour ;  consequently  they  had  only  Mrs.  Summers  for  company, 
who  smilingly  chided  them  for  being  late,  saying,  "  Pray,  what 
has  happened  ?  Were  it  Mr.  Park  alone,  it  would  not  much 
surprise  me.  But  it  is  quite  new  for  you,  Mr.  Featherstone ; 
so  much  so  that  I  thought  you  dining  elsewhere." 

"  It  is  an  offence,  madam,"  replied  he,  gravely,  "  that  I  shall 
not  be  likely  to  commit  again  under  this  roof." 

"  I  hope  you  do  not  think  of  leaving  us,  Mr.  Featherstone." 

"  Such  is  my  intention  now." 

"  You  really  astonish  me  !  And  certainly  I  hope  you  are 
not  going  on  account  of  any  thing  which  was  said  this  morn 
ing,  for  I  was  just  beginning  to  like  you." 

"  It  is  not  strictly  that,  but  rather  in  consequence  of  some 
thing  I  learned  this  morning,  I  have  thought  it  safest  and  best 
soon  to  change  place." 

"  Why  so  ?  I  am  sure  I  have  spoken  only  in  your  praise, 
and  if  any  other  in  this  house  has  done  so,  I  despise  the  act 
5* 


54  THEMUSTEE,     OR. 

and  the  doer  of  it.     Is  Mr.  Park  intending  to  leave  also  ?  " 
continued  she,  looking  up  to  that  individual. 

"  I  have  not  come  to  a  conclusion,"  replied  he,  rather  orac 
ularly. 

"  Well,  certainly,  if  I  ever  spoke  truth  in  my  life,  I  do  now, 
when  I  say  I  had  rather  they  would  all  go  than  you  and  Mr. 
Featherstone.  Truly,  I  hope  you  will  not  mind  what  I.  said, 
or  be  influenced  by  the  idle  or  envious  remarks  of  others." 

Featherstone,  having  eaten  but  a  trifle  for  him,  drew  back 
his  chair,  which  the  widow  observing,  said,  "  I  hope,  at  the 
least,  you  will  dine  with  me  to-day,  Mr.  Featherstone." 

"  I  have  dined,"  he  replied. 

"Then  it  is  something  more  serious  than  I  had  feared. 
Pray  tell  me  what  has  happened  ;  is  it  any  thing  that  I  have 
done?"  " 

On  this,  Featherstone  arose  from  .the  table,  and  moving 
towards  her,  inquired,  "  Will  you  give  me  your  hand  ?  " 

She  mechanically  extended  it,  and  the  tears  stood  in  her 
eyes  as  she  did  so.  When  taking  it,  he  placed  some  bank 
bills  in  the  warm  and  dewy  hollow,  slightly  pressed,  and  parted 
with  the  treasure. 

Observing  the  money,  she  said,  "  Pray,  what  is  all  this  for  ? 
You  owe  me  but  a  trifle,  and  I  have  no  desire  to  receive  that 
now." 

"  I  have  eaten  so  light  a  dinner,  —  and  I  observed  Park  did 
also,  —  that  we  shall  be  hungry  by  ten  o'clock,  and  I  wish  you 
to  get  up  a  very  choice  supper,  about  that  hour,  for  us  three, 
at  which  time  I  may  inform  you  why  I  think  it  due  to  myself 
to  leave  your  house." 

"  Will  you,  sure  ? "  inquired  she ;  when,  seeing  his  face 
soften  a  little,  she  continued,  "  do  take  back  this  money,  and 
let  me  provide  for  you  ;  now  do.  It  shall  be  just  as  nice,  and  I 
shall  feel  so  much  better.  Yes,  do ;  will  you  ?  " 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  55 

"  In  tlie  evening,  I  may  have  an  opportunity  for  explana 
tion,  and,  having  heard  me,  if  you  say  that  I  ought  to  receive 
back  the  money,  I  will  do  so.  I  cannot  take  it  now." 

"  Really,  I  think  you  are  cruel  to  keep  me  waiting  until 
that  time  before  you  tell  me  what  has  given  you  offence ;  why 

cannot  you  communicate  it  at  once?  I  long  to  know . 

Now  do  give  me  some  hint  of  it,  if  it  be  only  a  very  little." 

Park  having  stepped  into  the  hall,  Featherstone  said,  "  I 
suppose  I  might  speak  it  low." 

And  drawing  near  on  the  word,  she  rose  up  to  meet  him, 
when,  placing  his  hand  lightly  on  her  shoulder,  he  leaned 
towards  her  ear,  but  succeeded  in  getting  no  farther  than  her 
lips  !  She  saw  the  direction  of  his  glance  as  he  approached, 
and,  if  surprised  an  instant,  she  sweetly  yielded ;  so  that  one 
would  have  thought,  from  her  appearance  when  they  sepa 
rated,  that  the  mystery  had  been  explained  to  her  entire  and 
perfect  satisfaction  —  although  no  word  had  been  spoken  or 
whispered. 

In  a  few  moments  after  the  explanation,  the  young  lawyers 
left  the  house,  and  walked  down  the  street ;  and  for  a  time 
Featherstone's  thoughts  lingered  warmly  around  the  affec 
tionate  widow.  But  soon,  too  soon,  the  opening  prospect  of 
fortune  fixed  his  gaze,  and  took  possession  of  his  heart,  bear 
ing  it  away  from  the  sunny  but  fluctuating  sea  of  passion  in 
whose  foam  Aphrodite  was  forming ;  for  he  knew  so  little  of 
the  regal  soul  of  Love,  that  he  desired,  above  all,  those  golden 
treasures  with  which  he  thought  every  thing  besides  could  be 
purchased. 

As  they  proceeded  on,  they  came  opposite  to  a  window 
bright  and  warlike  with  swords  and  sashes ;  and  Park,  drawing 
Featherstone  into  the  store,  requested  to  see  some  dirks. 

The  attendant  having  laid  them  before  him,  he  selected  the 
most  beautiful,  of  the  collection,  on  the  blade  of  which  was 


56  THEMUSTEE,     OR 

blazoned,  "  I  protect."  This  he  presented  to  Featherstone, 
saying,  "As  you  are  going  among  a  chivalrous  people,  it  is 
necessary  that  you  be  prepared  to  respond  to  their  courtesy." 
On  receiving  it,  Featherstone  replied,  "It  is  generous  and 
acceptable,  and  it  may  be  useful ;  for  a  show  of  it,  even,  will 
sometimes  make  insolence  skulk  to  its  kennel." 

Resuming  their  walk,  they  soon  entered  their  respective 
offices,  where  Park  proceeded  in  the  examination  of  his  land 
case,  and  Featherstone  wrote  a  letter  of  thanks  and  acceptance 
to  Mr.  Merton,  and  then  went  out  to  walk,  as  he  was  too  much 
elated  with  the  thought  of  the  pleasing  change  that  awaited 
him  for  quiet  study  or  calm  reflection.  When,  however,  the 
hour  of  ten  came  round,  they  entered  their  boarding  house 
together.  The  widow  met  them  in  the  hall,  and  conducted 
them  into  the  library,  where  she  had  spread  the  table,  and 
made  a  fire,  for  the  evening  air  was  chilly.  After  closing  the 
door,  she  said,  as  she  rang  the  bell,  "  Now,  isn't  this  cosy  ?  " 

Truly  it  was  bright  and  cheerful.  While  the  well-turned 
figure  of  Mrs.  Summers  was  arrayed  with  particular  care  — 
indeed,  every  thing  was  so  neat,  and  fitting,  and  graceful,  that 
even  her  delicate  little  slipper  was  an  influence  !  There  was 
just  the  slightest  touch  of  cunning  in  her  smile,  seeming, 
somehow,  as  if  she  had  thought  of  some  sweet  way  of  recon 
ciliation,  though  still  fearing  and  hoping  for  its  success. 

"It  is  not  only  a  pleasing,  but  a  warm  reception,"  said 
Park,  in  reply  to  her  question,  (for  a  bright  fire  was  to  him 
one  of  the  most  agreeable  of  things,)  "  and  I  think  that  I  shall 
live  with  you  so  long  as  you  will  take  care  of  me." 

"  What  can  I  say  to  express  my  appreciation  of  your  kind 
ness  ?  "  said  Featherstone. 

"  Say  that  you  will  remain  here  as  long  as  Mr.  Park  does, 
and  you  shall  have  every  thing  to  please  you." 

"  I  have  placed  that  out  of  my  power,  having  gone  too  far 


LOYE    AND    LIBERTY.  57 

to  recede.     Yet  I  must  say  that  I  never  felt  the  attractions  so 
strong  as  at  this  time." 

"  Then  why  not  yield  to  them  ?  For  I  cannot  think  that 
you  have  made  it  impossible ;  I  will  not  believe  that  you  could 
have  been  so  hasty.  Did  you  expect  to  find  a  more  congenial 
place  ?  " 

But  before  Featherstone  could  reply,  the  servant  entered 
with  the  supper.  And  when  it  was  all  arranged,  even  to  the 
removing  of  the  wires  from  the  wine,  she  said,  "  I  will  excuse 
you  from  further  service,  John ;  the  table  may  remain  as  we 
leave  it  until  morning."  John  having  left  the  room,  she  con 
tinued,  "  Take  seats  at  the  table,  gentlemen ;  I  ought  not  to 
have  kept  you  waiting  a  moment,  as  you  scarcely  tasted  any 
thing  at  dinner." 

Featherstone  smiled  incredulously  on  the  widow  at  this 
idea,  and,  catching  his  meaning,  she  colored,  and  slyly  repaid 
his  glance,  while  Park,  seeing  all,  appeared  not  to  sec.  So, 
taking  a  seat,  he  removed  the  covers,  and  helped  them  to 
brown  and  reeking  reed-birds  —  the  choicest  delicacy  of  the 
autumnal  year. 

But  observing  that  the  widow  did  not  eat,  Featherstone 
said,  "  I  shall  not  soon  forget  this  place  and  its  pleasures,  and 
my  chief  regret  in  leaving  the  city  is,  that  I  must  part  from 
some  in  this  house." 

"  Then  it  is  not  us,  in  particular,  but  the  town,  that  you  are 
about  to  depart  from  !  Well,  I  do  feel  relieved.  At  first,  I 
feared  that  I  had  offended  in  some  way ;  and  then  I  thought 
that  some  one  else  had  —  you  appeared  so  serious  and  sen 
sitive." 

"  Not  offended,  by  any  means ;  you  must  have  misinter 
preted  my  sad  and  ill-suppressed  emotions.  Indeed,  I  feared 
so  at  dinner ;  and  I  thought  of  explaining  myself  more  fully 
but  I  was  too  much  agitated  for  utterance.  Let  me  help  you 
to  a  warm  bird." 


58  THBMUSTEEjOB 

"  If  you  please." 

"  May  I  have  the  pleasure  of  a  glass  of  wine  ?  " 

"  I  thank  you,"  said  she,  and  her  eyes  beamed  it  more 
warmly  than  her  words,  as  she  pressed  the  glass  to  her  lips. 
"  But  pray  tell  me  where  you  are  going,  and  why  you  must  go." 

"  I  have  been  invited  to  New  Orleans,  to  pass  the  winter, 
perhaps  to  find  a  home  there  for  some  years.  I  have  a  rel 
ative  in  that  place,  who  seems  to  be  desirous  to  help  me  to  a 
fortune,  and  I  am  bent  on  examining  the  prospect,  thinking,  if 
it  be  good,  I  may  grasp  the  extended  hand,  and  suffer  it  to 
lead  me." 

"  We  shall  see  you  in  the  summer  then,  unless  you  intend 
to  quite  forsake  and  forget  us." 

"  I  know  so  little  what  my  situation  will  be,  that  it  is  diffi 
cult  to  say  how  soon  I  can  visit  you ;  but 

'  Do  the  birds  that  fly  south  still  remember  their  nest  ? '  " 

"  I  think  that  these  will  not :  so  let  me  help  you  to  another," 
said  Park.  "  But  what  do  you  intend  to  do  with  your  office  ?  " 

"  I  have  concluded  to  give  notice  on  the  door  that  Brian 
Park,  Esq.  (office  No.  9,  next  floor  below)  will  take  charge  of 
the  business  during  the  absence  of  the  subscriber,  then  lock  it, 
and  leave  the  key  with  you.  In  all  which  laborious  duties  I 

% 

shall  hold  the  said  Park  accountable  for  faithful  and  diligent 
performance.  And,  Mrs.  Summers,  I  call  on  you  to  witness 
that  he  so  promises,  and  accepts  the  trust." 

"  I  shall  not  forget  it ;  and,  if  you  must  go,  I  engage  that 
he  will  attend  to  it  nearly  as  well  as  you  would." 

"  It  may  be  so ;  but  when  I  come  on,  if  I  find  any  thing 
wrong,  I  shall  look  to  you  for  satisfaction." 

"  I  think  that  I  may  venture  to  promise  so  much,"  said  she, 
laughing,  "  if  it  can  be  settled  as  agreeably  as  was  our  last 
misunderstanding." 


L  0  V  E    A  N  D    L  I  B  E  R  T  Y  .  59 

Supper  being  quite  over,  Park  arose,  saying,  "  I  am  sorry 
to  separate  from  such  pleasant  company,  but  as  I  have  some 
preparation  to  make  in  a  matter  which  is  to  be  heard  to-mor 
row,  you  will  be  kind  enough  to  excuse  me." 

To  this  there  was  remonstrance,  and  then  a  parting  glass, 
when  kindly  wishes  mingled  with  the  wine.  In  a  few  mo 
ments,  warm  smiles  lighted  him  out,  and  grew  more  expres 
sive  as  he  turned  away ;  knowing  which,  the  sympathizing 
reader  will  be  pleased  to  learn  that  Park  closed  the  door  after 
him,  although  it  must  necessarily  close  the  chapter. 


60  THEMUSTEE,    OR 


CHAPTER    VI. 

Ill-fated  race !  the  softening  arts  of  peace, 
Whate'er  the  humanizing  Muses  teach, 
The  godlike  wisdom  of  the  tempered  breast, 
Investigation  calm,  whose  silent  powers 
Command  the  world — these  are  not  theirs. 

THOMSON. 

RUFUS  MERTON  went  to  New  Orleans,  and  became  a  resi 
dent  there,  soon  after  Louisiana  was  ceded  to  the  United 
States.  He  sprang  from  a  family  of  consideration  and  wealth 
in  one  of  the  interior  New  England  towns,  where,  at  an  early- 
age,  (his  father  being  dead,)  he  found  himself  the  heir  of  so 
much  estate  as  was  needful  to  facilitate  his  entry  into  business  ; 
and  in  the  course  of  years,  by  skilful  management  and  good 
fortune,  he  had  become  rich.  He  was  endowed  by  nature 
with  a  gentle  and  kind  disposition,  and  assiduously  cultivating 
friendship,  he  had  also  kept  his  heart  open  to  all  the  voices  of 
distress,  giving  relief  to  many  a  want-stricken  family.  If  dis 
aster  lowered  around  any  one  of  his  acquaintance,  he  came  at 
once  to  avert  the  dangers  of  the  storm,  or,  if  that  exceeded 
his  power,  to  save  him  from  sinking  amid  the  wreck ;  and  if 
he  occasionally  suffered  loss  by  so  doing,  it  did  not  throw  dis 
trust  over  all  the  future,  or  harden  his  soul  into  selfishness. 

He  had  left  the  north  (as  Featherstone  has  said)  with  a 
feeling  towards  his  cousin,  which,  had  his  nature  been  more 
bluff  and  prosaic,  would  have  declared  its  love  ere  he  de 
parted.  But,  through  the  rich  coloring  of  his  deeply-adoring 
heart,  she  appeared  so  pure  and  priceless",  that  he  felt  too  poor 
to  ask  such  high  acceptance,  and  went  away  to  live  on  the 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  61 

hope  of  one  day  returning  more  worthy  of  her  love.  They 
parted  tenderly;  yet  neither  revealed  what  most  they  felt; 
and  if  vivid  recollection  did  frequently  call  forth  the  scene 
upon  a  summer's  eve,  she  began  to  fear  that  it  was  a  vanish 
ing  dream  of  fond  and  fleeting  youth  —  the  one  picture  on 
which  we  turn  to  gaze  and  muse  while  Memory  can  hold  her 
lamp  to  illuminate  the  scroll.  She,  indeed,  had  leisure  to  re 
cur  to  it,  and  did,  even  when  doubt  had  dimmed  its  brightness, 
and  hope  found  no  sweet  perspective.  But  his  was  an  active 
life,  and  in  it  he  was  apparently  absorbed,  seeming  as  if  some- 
thin  <*  more  substantial  than  a  maiden's  charms  had  fixed  his 

O 

gaze  and  filled  his  aspirations.  Yet  he  hoped  and  believed  in 
a  coming  and  an  appropriate  hour,  dreaming  that,  if  she  loved 
as  he  did,  she  was  as  cheerfully  and  hopefully  waiting,  never 
once  considering  that  she  had  not  the  same  sustaining  motives, 
^such  as  winning  home  and  station,  with  daily  drinking  at  the 
stimulating  fountains  of  success. 

During  all  this  time,  he  did  not  dare  to  write  to  her,  feeling 
that  he  could  give  no  adequate  expression  to  his  emotions. 
Neither  did  he  venture  to  name  her  in  his  letters  to  his  sister ; 
it  was  too  tender  a  subject  even  for  such  exposure. 

So  she  came  to  believe  that  she  had  faded  out  of  mind,  had 
been  forgotten  by  the  long  absent  and  silent  lover,  and  at 
length  yielded  to  the  suit  and  siege  of  another. 

About  that  time  Merton,  having  attained  to  a  degree  of  in 
dependence  which  gave  him  confidence  to  declare  his  love, 
turned  his  face  homeward,  and  entered  into  all  the  familiar 
and  softening  scenes  of  his  boyhood  to  find  his  cousin  a  bride. 

She  had  been  married  only  a  few  months  to  a  sharp  and 
thrifty  shopkeeper,  who — so  the  gossips  said  —  was  a  good 
match  for  any  body,  looking  at  it, of  course,  in  the  ordinary  light 
of  trade.  So  Merton  found  her  wedded  and  to  all  appearance 
she  was  happy ;  consequently  he  kept  his  secret,  and  no  one 
6 


62 


dreamed  that  the  cause  which  occasioned  the  visit  was  other 
than  such  as  turns  us  all,  at  times,  to  the  place  of  our  birth. , 
The  valuable  articles  which  he  had  purchased  to  present  to 
her,  he  gave  with  words  which  outweighed  the  gifts,  if  they 
were  lighter  and  calmer  than  they  would  have  been  had  he 
found  her  fondly  awaiting  his  coming.  He  saw  that  he  had 
no  cause  to  reproach  any  one  but  himself  for  his  loss,  and  he 
did  not  lament  it  the  less  when  he  learned  that  she  parted 
from  the  hope  of  his  love  with  a  reluctant  heart ;  hence  he 
became  her  true  and  most  tender  friend. 

During  the  summer,  Merton  met  her  frequently,  and  saw 
her  husband  also ;  and  although  he  found  nothing  in  him  to 
like,  he  strove  to  treat  him  with  kindness  for  her  sake.  He 
planned  and  executed  many  a  little  party  of  pleasure ;  now  a 
picnic  in  some  grove,  now  a  drive  to  points  of  attraction  in 
the  vicinity,  and  now  berrying  among  the  hills :  these  made 
the  days  bright,  and  winged  the  hours.  So  the  husband  came 
to  feel  —  as  Merton  paid  all  attendant  expenses  —  that  he  had 
not  only  married  a  fair  and  useful  wife,  but  won  a  rich  and 
liberal  relative  besides. 

In  this  manner  the  warm  and  genial  season  fled  away ;  and, 
in  the  early  autumn  days,  Merton  bade  her  farewell,  saying, 
"  Dear  cousin,  if  any  trouble  come  near  you,  I  desire  that  you 
will  let  me  share  it,  or  prevent  it,  if  it  be  in  my  power.  I 
pray  that  this  confidence  and  this  privilege  may  be  mine  —  I 
should  grieve  were  you  to  prefer  another.  May  I  hope  that 
you  will  so  far  remember  me  ?  " 

There  were  tears  in  her  eyes  as  she  falteringly  thanked 
him,  and  he  released  her  hand  —  tears  that  I  dare  not  ana 
lyze  ;  for  the  deepest  emotions  of  her  bosom  were  apparent  as 
he  entered  his  carriage  and  departed. 

Returning  to  his  adopted  city,  Merton  once  more  engaged 
in  business  with  all  his  former  assiduity,  and  more  than  his 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  63 

early  fellow-feeling;  thus  seeking  to  soothe  the  disappoint 
ment  which  had  so  disarranged  his  scheme  of-  life  and  de 
stroyed  his  youthful  hope.  Still  he  could  not  quite  forget  it ; 
consequently,  clouds  of  sadness  canopied  all  the  hours  of  his 
rest,  and  even  his  days  grew  dreary,  as  time  began  to  reveal 
the  desolation  of  his  heart  and  fill  the  void  with  pain.  He 
had  been  at  home  but  a  few  months,  when  one  day,  passing 
through  a  mart  where  slaves  were  sold  at  public  auction,  he 
saw  among  them  a  pale  quadroon,  apparently  about  twenty 
years  of  age,  with  comely  features,  shapely  person,  and  modest 
expression,  yet  withal  a  look  so  woful  that  it  arrested  his 
steps  as  with  a  spell.  But  when  she  observed  him  thus  stand 
ing  and  gazing,  as  he  could  not  but  do,  compassionately  upon 
her,  her  face  shone  with  some  faint  ray  of  hope.  Thereupon 
he  approached  her,  and  inquired,  "Is  there  any  thing  that  I 
can  do  for  you  ?  " 

"  If  you  will  only  take  me  from  this  dreadful  place  ! "  cried 
she ;  and  then  the  tears  gushed,  and  her  frame  was  shaken 
like  a  tree  that  the  tempest  tosses. 

On  this  Merton  drew  near  to  her,  and,  when  she  had  com 
posed  herself  somewhat,  inquired,  "  Do  you  wish  to  return  to 
your  friends  ?  " 

"  I  have  no  friends  ! " 

"  I  mean  to  the  place  you  came  from.  Where  were  you 
born?" 

"  In  Virginia." 

"  Is  it  not  your  hope  to  go  back  there  ?  " 

"  No,  never !  For  my  mother  is  dead,  and  my  relatives 
have  cast  me  out." 

"  I  understand.     They  are  white,  I  suppose." 

"  Yes,"  said  she,  after- another  moment  of  deep  agitation. 

"  Have  you  had  any  useful  teaching  and  instruction  ?  " 

"  I  have  learned  needlework,  and  know  how  to  keep  house." 


64  THEMUSTEE,    OR 

<(  Have  you  ever  kept  house  ?  " 

"  I  have  not ;  but  my  mother  did,  and  she  taught  me." 

"  Can  you  read  and  write  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  rny  fa ,  my  master  taught  me  to  write,  and  in 
structed  me  in  the  English  and  French  languages." 

Merton,  not  knowing  at  the  moment  what  further  to  say, 
hesitated,  and  thought  of  turning  away,  but  at  length  inquired, 
"  How  can  I  relieve  you  ?  " 

"  If  you  will  only  have  mercy  and  buy  me." 

Seeing  that  she  faltered,  he  tenderly  inquired,  "Why  do 
you  wish  me  to  become  your  purchaser  ?" 

"  Because  I  believe  that  you  will  be  kind  ;  and  in  that  lies 
my  only  hope  —  there  is  nothing  more  now  for  me  to  cling  to." 
Again  agitated  beyond  utterance,  she  at  length  continued,  "  If 
you  will  only  buy  me,  I  will  jlo  any  thing  :  it  would  be  easier 
(Q  die  for  you  than  to  live  with  some  who  have  questioned  me 
to-day.  O,  when  I  think  how  either  one  may  purchase,  and 
so  acquire  the  power  to  possess  me,  I  feel  it  to  be  hell !  and  I 
see  no  escape,  I  know  no  refuge,  but  to  implore  you  to  save 
me.  O,  do  not  think  me  too  bold ;  but  see  only  how  I  am 
crushed  down  and  cast  out  utterly  from  all  protection,  with  no 
hope  remaining,  save  the  pity  of  some  generous  heart." 

Merton  had  seen  the  slave  markets  many  times,  and  ob 
served  the  goods  which  were  exposed  there ;  yet  he  had 
passed  on  without  giving  the  subject  much  attention,  as  he 
wished  to  avoid  it.  If  feeling  thrilled  over  the  abyss  for  a 
moment,  he  drew  back  with  instinctive  dread.  Beyond  this 
he  had  not  ventured  ;  as  the  beings  whom  he  had  seen  in  such 
places  previously,  were,  for  the  most  part,  dark,  uncouth,  and 
silent ;  perhaps  he  may  have  thought  that,  in  the  blending 
series  of  creation,  they  were  an  inferior  race,  requiring  pro 
tection  :  what  kind  of  protection  that  was  which  he  daily  saw, 
strange  to  say,  he  had  never  analyzed. 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  65 

But  now,  when  he  beheld  the  outrage  by  the  light  of 
maiden  beauty,  clothed  too  with  a  natural  grace  and  height 
ened  by  surrounding  woe,  revealing  the  sad  story  in  tears  and 
the  pathos  of  the  English  tongue,  it  struck  home  and  deeply 
moved  him  ;  so,  if'  suffering  plead,  it  is  truly  of  the  first  con 
sequence,  to  most  of  us,  in  what  form  it  comes,  as  well  as 
what  boon  it  craves.  If,  at  that  hour  of  our  national  conscious 
ness,  she  had  besought  Merton  to  give  her  freedom,  he  would 
have  turned  away,  —  sorrowing,  it  might  be,  like  the  young 
man  that  came  to  Jesus  by  night  and  was  seen  no  more,  —  as 
his  mind  was  not  prepared  for  such  a  stride.  But,  as  she 
only  declared  preference,  her  imploring  words  found  a  way  to 
his  heart,  while  they  aroused  him  to  action  ;  for  the  pressure 
of  the  inexorable  law  was  imminent,  and  only  to  be  met  by 
purchase.  This  being  the  case,  it  will  be  seen  that  compli 
ance  with  her  wish  might  put  off  a  weight  of  woe  which  would 
be  hard  to  bear,  even  in  the  memory  of  one  who  had  observed 
only  to  pass  by  on  the  other  side.  How  could  he  leave  her  so 
utterly  helpless  and  despairing,  caught,  as  she  was,  in  the 
strong  net  of  power,  and  crying  to  him  through  its  terrible 
meshes  ?  He  found  her  trembling  and  moaning,  like  some 
poor  helpless  bird  that  sees  a  loathsome  serpent  coiling  to  the 
nest  of  her  callow  brood,  and  saw  that  the  hour  of  her  rescue 
or  her  doom  had  come.  Thus  it  was  displayed  to  him.  And 
when  he  at  length  came  out  from  a  flood  of  anxious  and  con 
tending  thoughts  and  feelings,  and  said,  "  Do  not  weep  more  ; 
I  will  see  that  something  be  done  for  you,"  hers  was  not 
the  only  heart  that  rejoiced.  With  this  view  he  turned  to 
speak  with  the  person  who  kept  the  place  ;  yet  his  face  flushed 
when  he  thought  how  the  act  would  be  interpreted  by  him. 
He  had  met  the  man  often — indeed,  was  quite  well  acquainted 
with  him  in  the  way  of  business.  So,  as  he  came  near,  the 
6* 


66  THEMUSTEE,    OR 

keeper  (who  had  been  observing  him)  said,  "Well,  Merton, 
what  do  you  think  of  her  ?  " 

"  I  think  that  she  is  to  be  pitied,"  he  replied. 

"  How  much  ?  fifteen  or  eighteen  hundred  dollars  worth  ? 
But  without  joking,  Merton,  if  you  want  her  I  won't  bid 
against  you." 

"  What  part  of  the  country  is  she  from  ?  " 

"The  Old  Dominion,  the  mother  of  States;  and  very 
probably  she  is  the  daughter  of  statesmen.  But  here  is  the 
bill  that  came  with  her ;  we  indorse  what  is  there  set  forth ; 
and  for  any  thing  further,  you  can  examine  and  trust  to  your 
own  judgment.  I  must  say  I  fanced  the  '  piece '  when  I  first 
saw  her,  and  talked  with  her  about  it ;  but  she  told  me  flatly 
that  she  did  not  want  me  to  buy  her.  However,  there  have 
been  a  number  of  others  to  examine  her,  for  she  is  a  desira 
ble  article,  young,  handsome,  and  all  that ;  yet,  as  near  as  I 
can  find  out,  she  has  answered  them  all  pretty  much  in  the 
same  fashion." 

Merton  looked  over  the  bill,  and  seeing  that,  as  far  as  it 
went,  it  entirely  corresponded  with  her  own  account,  he 
returned  it  into  the  hand  of  the  vendor,  with  a  sum  of  money, 
saying,  "  I  wish  you  to  purchase  the  girl;  and,  if  the  price  be 
reasonable,  you  may  expect  something  more  when  I  cash 
the  bill." 

When  Merton  went  back  to  the  quadroon,  and  told  her  to 
be  comforted,  for  he  had  made  arrangements  with  the  keeper 
to  become  her  purchaser,  and  then  passed  away  to  avoid  the 
gaze  of  the  curious,  her  rigid  features  melted,  her  hot  eyes 
overflowed  with  sweeter  waters,  and  long  and  refreshingly  fell 
the  tearful  rain  on  that  heart  which  was  well  nigh  parched 
to  a  desert. 

All  that  day,  in  the  intervals  of  business,  Merton  listened 
to  his  better  feelings,  and  was  filled  with  "  the  low,  sad  music 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  67 

of  humanity,"  making  the  walls  of  exclusion  tremble  to  their 
fall,  as  did  those  of  Jericho  to  the  trumpets  of  Joshua ;  so 
that,  in  the  evening,  when  he  went  to  the  place  where  he  had 
directed  the  girl  to  be  conveyed,  he  was  nerved  with  the  con 
scious  strength  of  one  who  had  resolved  to  break  shackles 
and  clothe  a  slave  with  freedom.  Feeling  that  this  was  her 
right,  he  rejoiced  that  he  had  the  power  to  give  her  back  the 
treasure.  A  swift  seeming  change  !  yet  not  strange  ;  for  one 
gust  of  free  thought  can  dissipate  a  cloud  like  this  as  easily  as 
the  westerly  wind  rolls  off  the  mist  from  our  Atlantic  coast. 
Seeing  him  enter,  she  met  him  as  her  deliverer ;  and,  when 
she  had  thanked  him  again  and  again  for  his  pitying  kindness, 
and  had  calmed  her  glad  weeping,  he  opened  the  high  purpose 
of  his  heart. 

But  her  beaming  face  dipped  down  into  sad  shadow  as  she 
said,  u  My  home  seemed  so  secure,  until  recently,  that  I  never 
realized  such  a  want  as  freedom  ;  and  although  it  may  be  a 
rock  of  refuge,  it  appears  like  a  desolate  place.  If  you  give 
me  liberty,  where  shall  I  go  ?  I  cannot  go  home  ;  I  have  no 
home  !  Spurned  from  the  house  in  which  I  was  born  by  my 
kindred,  would  you  send  me  back  to  their  scorning  ?  " 

"  Not  to  them,  but  into  one  of  the  free  states,  where  you 
will  find  friends  ;  and  I  will  see  that  you  do  not  want  for  any 
thing ;  while  you  are  so  nearly  white  that  the  people  may  re 
ceive  you  without  prejudice  ;  you  at  least  will  be  secure  there, 
and  may  be  happy." 

But  she  Jbegan  to  weep  ;  for  she  shrank  like  a  child  from  all 
the  lofty  struggles  of  life.  And  how  could  she  else,  as  the 
peculiar  machinery  of  law  and  custom  by  which  she  was 
manufactured,  enervates  what  should  be  made  strong,  and 
develops  that  which  requires  control  ?  Liberty  may,  indeed, 
be  so  utterly  trampled  out  of  the  mind  by  the  fierce  footsteps 
of  oppression,  that  we  shall  not  only  no  longer  sigh  for  it,  but, 


68  THEMUSTEE,    OR 

through  the  weakness  which  such  wrong  induces,  it  will  cease 
to  be  desirable.  Yet  not  so  with  the  affections,  for  they  are 
the  fire  and  motion  of  the  soul  —  throbbing  with  the  last 
pulse  of  the  heart,  and  going  out  with  the  last  light  of  the  eye. 

The  slave,  who  had  thus  been  cast  forth  upon  a  "  sea  of 
troubles,"  saw  amid  the  billows  this  outstretched  hand ;  and, 
having  succeeded  in  grasping  it,  who  can  reproach  her  for 
desiring  to  hold  it  fast  ?  or  measure  the  distress  which  made 
her  say,  "  All  that  I  desire  is  to  be  your  servant ;  and  then 
you  may  sell  me  if  I  do  wrong ;  but  that  I  can  never  do,  for 
my  only  hope  is  to  be  yours.  To  sell  me  now,  or  to  send  me 
north,  seem  to  me  so  alike  in  their  dreary  prospect,  that  I  have 
no  wish  to  choose  between  them.  I  may  not  venture  to  say 
how  the  master  feels,  but  the  slave  has  only  one  thing  to  seek 
in  life,  which  is,  to  find  a  kind  heart ;  so  that  we  come  to 
search  and  study  faces  for  that  single  trait.  O,  how  many  did 
I  gaze  on  to-day,  without  hope,  until  you  came  !  and  I  looked 
upon  no  one  after  you  had  gone,  and  I  shall  never  wish  to 
more." 

Thus  she  spoke,  with  her  bowed  head  upon  her  folded  arms, 
and  ended  sobbing  —  seeming  like  a  beauteous  temple  shaken 
to  its  deep  foundations  and  stripped  of  all  its  sacred  orna 
ments  ;  its  pinnacles  and  heaven-pointing  spires  all  broken  ; 
yet  still  making  a  mute  appeal  to  be  saved  from  utter  ruin 
and  desecration. 

If  Merton  gave  her  room  in  his  heart,  when  thus  invoked, 
who  will  severely  censure  him  ?  for  the  wrongs  which  had  so 
crushed  and  devastated  her,  touch  the  act  with  the  color  of 
virtue  —  an  act  which  may  not  receive  our  full  approbation, 
or  pass  judgment  in  the  final  accounting  of  conscience ;  yet  it 
is  of  the  kind  that  the  heart  will  forever  seek  to  palliate. 

But  that  was  long  ago.  For,  at  the  period  when  this  story 
opens,  they  were  living  in  one  of  the  quiet  parts  of  the  city,  in 


LOVE     AND    LIBERTY.  69 

a  pleasant  and  spacious  house,  with  many  servants  at  their  call. 
They  also  had  a  daughter,  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  formed 
by  nature  to  be  a  blessing  in  any  home  ;  yet  appearing  there 
under  circumstances  which  excluded  her  nearly  as  much  from 
society,  in  that  proud  community,  as  it  would  from  the  most 
correct  circle  of  Christian  New  England.  For,  to  say  truth, 
they  were  not  so  entirely  isolated  there  as  they  would  be 
here,  as  Merton  took  his  friends  home  frequently  to  dine ; 
and  Madam  (that  being  the  name  by  which  she  was  known) 
always  presided  at  the  table,  and  with  the  ease  and  elegance 
which  is  rarely,  if  ever,  acquired  in  a  single  generation. 
"  Blood  tells  ! "  is  a  phrase  which  was  frequently  on  the  lips 
of  Randolph  of  Roanoke ;  and  they  who,  like  him,  would 
trace  the  current  to  its  parent  lake,  could  see  that  this  quad 
roon  was  the  daughter  of  culture,  although  her  limbs  were 
marked  with  manacles.  Never  did  more  graceful  attentions, 
or  more  gentle  voices,  make  music  in  any  home,  than  those 
which  charmed  the  life  of  Merton.  The  kindly  question  and 
the  fond  reply,  anticipated  wants,  and  meeting  eyes  beaming 
with  love  light,  drew  him  there  like  a  bird  to  his  nest,  making 
it  so  downy  soft  and  warm  that  neither  heart  nor  hope  ever 
dreamed  of  aught  beyond. 


70  THEMUSTEE,     OB 


CHAPTER    VII. 

How  poor  a  thing  is  pride !  when  all,  as  slaves, 
Differ  but  in  their  fetters,  not  their  graves. 

DANIEL. 

TURNING  another  page,  we  shall  see  that  Merton  was  not 
without  his  troubles.  The  form  of  his  domestic  life  furnished 
a  theme  for  censure  precisely  in  proportion  to  the  value  of  the 
qualities  which  marked  and  illustrated  his  course  in  every 
other  particular.  If  he  did  a  generous  or  a  noble  thing,  and 
it  was  praised  in  the  presence  of  the  mean,  they  straightway 
pointed  to  the  darker  spot ;  and  as  he  gave  them  frequent 
opportunity,  so  it  was  often  spoken  of.  If  his  name  was  men 
tioned  in  connection  with  any  public  office,  —  and  no  man  in 
the  state  would  have  filled  one  more  acceptably,  —  some  wily 
demagogue,  who  was  ready  to  beg,  implore,  or  basely  procure 
a  place,  would  suggest  that  there  might  be  a  reason  why  the 
people  could  not  vote  for  Merton. 

Even  when  the  church  asked  him  to  give  of  his  abundance 
to  the  building  of  a  temple,  they  never  invited  him  to  bring 
his  family  there  to  worship — they  shrank  from  such  fearful 
contamination.  Merton,  no  doubt,  saw  all  this  ;  saw  it  as  no 
man  else  could  see  it ;  yet  it  did  not  sour  his  spirit  or  stint  his 
charity. 

Neither  were  these,  and  their  multiform  offspring,  all.  His 
sister,  who  had  always  exercised  great  influence  over  him 
from  her  superior  mental  force  and  persistence,  had  married  a 
merchant  of  the  city,  and,  becoming  aware  of  the  connection, 
set  her  face  against  it  like  a  flint.  Yet,  for  a  time,  she  made 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  71 

her  protest  only  in  coldness  of  manner  and  studied  reserve. 
Merton  saw  the  change,  but  made  no  comment,  although  he 
visited  her  less  frequently.  This  gave  her  an  opportunity  to 
reproach  him  for  neglect,  and  allude  to  its  cause  ;  and  so 
reaching  the  subject,  she  did  not  leave  it  without  expressing  a 
decisive  opinion  on  its  merits. 

At  first  Merton  made  no  reply  ;  he  even  smiled  amid  the 
storm.  This,  however,  did  not  dishearten  Mrs.  Steel.  She 
knew  that  the  judgment  of  the  enlightened  world  was  with 
her,  and  that  continual  dropping  wears  the  rock ;  so  she  con 
tinued  her  laudable  efforts  for  her  brother's  reformation.  She 
misstated  that  he  might  correct;  she  so  spoke  against  his 
course  as  to  lead  him  to  defend  or  palliate  it,  for  she  felt  that 
in  the  court  of  reason  she  could  convict  him  of  wrong.  She 
even  sought  to  tempt  him  with  what  she  thought  "metal  more 
attractive,"  for  she  had  been  educated  to  loathe  "  people  of 
color."  "  Now,"  said  she  on  one  occasion,  "  if  you  would  only 
arouse  yourself  from  this  hallucination  you  might  marry  the 
lady  whose  denunciation  is  the  deepest  and  most  frequent. 
There  is  Miss  E.,  who  always  speaks  of  it  as  a  terrible 
thing !  and  the  widow  V.,  who  lets  no  opportunity  for  allu 
sion  pass  by  unimproved,  calling  it  horrid  and  low !  yet, 
although  they  are  of  fashionable  families,  and  have  a  most 
surprising  estimate  of  their  own  worth,  either  of  them  will  go 
with  you  to  the  altar  to-morrow,  if  you  would  only  say  —  this 
thing  is  over." 

When  Merton  smiled,  —  as  he  could  not  but  do  at  his  sis 
ter's  enthusiasm,  so  calculated  to  fill  him  with  vain  hope,  — 
she  continued,  with  more  emphasis,  "  I  feel  sure  that,  if  you 
will  only  do  as  I  have  said,  you  may  choose  between  those 
delicate  and  exemplary  ladies." 

"  But  my  child"  interposed  Merton  ;  "  what  shall  I  do  with 
her?" 


72  THEMUSTEE,    OB 

"  Is  it  not  a  slave's  child  ?  "  inquired  she.  "  Were  you  not 
fully  aware  that  the  laws  had  fixed  her  place  ?  —  laws  which 
were  made  on  mature  deliberation  of  all  the  facts  and  circum 
stances,  by  our  wisest  men,  for  the  well-being  of  the  state." 

"  Do  you  think  that  course  possible  to  me,  even  though  you 
recommend  it  ?  " 

"  I  only  indicated  the  way  prescribed  by  statesmen." 

"  Thank  God,"  said  Merton,  rising  from  his  seat,  "  that 
even  our  law-makers  dared  not  wholly  prevent  the  action  of 
feeling  when  it  possesses  the  power  of  wealth  !  They  left  a 
narrow  path  where  the  sunlight  may  fall ;  they  did  not  ven 
ture  to  completely  overshadow  the  land  with  the  Upas  they 
cherish.  Had  they  so  done,  the  poisonous  tree  would,  long 
ago,  have  been  torn  up  by  the  roots  !  And  if  it  has  struck 
down  and  found  nourishment,  and  gained  strength,  and  spread 
wide,  the  heart  deplores  it,  and  every  .strong  thought  tosses 
and  cracks  its  branches.  They  may  prop  them  up  by  enact 
ments,  and  grow  lethargic  in  the  sickly  shade  ;  yet,  though  it 
be  very  bitter  for  the  bondmen,  it  drugs  only  the  cup  of  the 
masters,  who  are  slowly,  but  surely,  failing  through  its  ener 
vating  influence.  But  this  is  ground  that  I  tread  reluctantly, 
and  from  which  I  shrink  when  I  behold  its  vast  sweep  and 
multiform  obstructions.  Still,  did  I  only  observe  how  the  sys 
tem  closes  up  your  heart,  I  should  know  it  to  be  pernicious. 
Indeed,  any  and  all  laws  that  seek  to  stifle  whatsoever  is  gen 
erous  in  our  natures,  have  never  yet  had  the  seal  of  the  eter 
nal  Lawgiver ;  nor  can  they,  for  any  length  of  time,  meet 
with  human  acceptance.  Great  interests  may  shape  statutes, 
and  banded  strength  enforce  them,  to  the  detriment  and  sor 
row  of  the  weak  ;  but  silently,  surely,  and  dreadfully  it  is 
heaping  up  wrath  against  the  day  of  wrath !  And  some  future 
historian,  glancing  back  on  our  broken  or  completed  course, 
will  write,  as  all  his  predecessors  have  written,  amid  the 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  73 

wreck  of  empire,  '  Only  that  which  is  just  can  partake  of  the 
life  of  God.'  Looking  at  the  deed  to  which  you  so  often  urge 
me  —  this  separation,  this  desertion  —  by  such  a  light,  how 
can  I  feel  that  it  would  be  right  ?  Will  it  not  increase  human 
suffering  ?  bring  woe,  not  only  to  me,  —  for  that  I  would  try 
to  bear,  —  but  to  those  who  so  entirely  trust  in  me  ?  Mary, 
whenever  I  take  up  this  subject,  —  and  you  may  believe  that 
I  give  it  frequent  and  anxious  consideration,  —  I  start  with 
the  clearest  convictions  of  duty;  but  soon  I  hear  such  lament 
ing  voices  that  I  close  the  painful  contemplation  all  weakness 
and  irresolution." 

Desiring  to  lead  him  to  still  further  confession,  she  softened 
her  tone,  and  said,  "  Dear  brother,  I  would  not  have  believed, 
from  any  other  lips,  that  you  were  so  infirm  of  purpose.  Has 
it  come  to  this,  that  you  think  you  have  so  hopelessly  entan 
gled  the  thread  of  life  that  it  can  run  smooth  no  more  ?  If 
so,  what  a  sad  mischance  that  you  should  have  seen  her ! " 

"  There  lies  the  doubt !  "  replied  Merton.  "  That  is  the 
problem  which  I  cannot  solve  ;  as  I  know  it  was  pure  kind 
ness  and  compassion  which  led  me  to  her,  and  detained  me  to 
listen  to  her  story,  and  seek  to  wave  back  the  furies  from  her 
heart.  Having  so  done,  I  offered  her  freedom  and  compe 
tence  ;  'but,  the  sense  of  their  value  being  lost  or  buried  deep 
under  accumulated  wrong,  she  chose  rather  to  cling  to  me; 
for  she  loved  me,  and  was  capable  of  inspiring  love  —  did 
inspire  it ;  and  has  kept  it  glowing  and  growing ;  and  God 
knows  it." 

"  You  shock  me,  Rufus.  Love,  pure  love,  springs  only  in 
the  bosom  of  virtue  —  a  virtue  that  can  lay  its  reverent  hand 
on  the  altar,  and  raise  an  untroubled  eye  to  the  throne  of  the 
Infinite  for  a  blessing  on  her  virgin  vows.  The  law  of  mar 
riage  I  know  is  right ;  it  has  survived,  and  shall !  for  it  is  the 
keystone  of  the  social  arch ;  and  whoever  builds  on  any  other 
7 


74  THEMUSTEE,    OR 

foundation  can  rear  no  sightly  structure  in  which  his  children 
shall  rejoice." 

"  Do  you  wish  me  to  marry  her  ?  " 

"  For  Heaven's  sake,  no  !  I  desire  to  erase  the  blot,  not  to 
make  it  indelible.  I  would  save  my  daughters  from  suffering 
by  it ;  and  you  should  remember  them,  too,  Rufus." 

"  How  sensitive  you  are,  Mary !  Do  you  believe  if  I  loved 
a  woman  whose  uncle,  or  brother,  or  father  even,  was  living 
as  I  have  done,  that  it  would  cause  me  to  change  ?  " 

"  No  ;  yet  it  might  deter  you  from  approaching  her  at  all. 
If  friends  forbear  to  point  to  this,  the  censorious,  perhaps 
envious,  world  will,  sooner  or  later,  make  us  feel  the  stigma. 
If  you  furnish  a  quiver  of  arrows,  be  sure  there  will  be  no 
lack  of  expert  hands  to  launch  them  from  their  '  long  bows/ 
though  probably  not  until  they  have  been  dipped  in  the  arch 
er's  poison." 

"  It  may  be  so.  I  am  aware  that  there  is  a  large  class  of 
persons  in  every  community  who,  like  ink-fish,  befoul  the 
waters  that  they  themselves  may  the  more  securely  escape 
observation." 

"  Do  you  propose  to  take  advantage  of  the  turbidness  of  the 
current  ?  Is  not  that  a  sufficient  reason  for  leaving  it  ?  " 

"I  admit  that  you  are  right  in  this  matter,  Mary,  when 
viewed  in  the  abstract.  Yet  how  little  are  the  feelings  dis 
posed  to  admit  that  frost  is  virtue,  if  it  does  appear  to  pre 
serve  !  Who  can  make  his  heart  heed  such  teaching,  when 
reason  is  but  a  barrier  of  ice  on  which  affection  breathes,  and 
it  is  gone  ?  " 

Time  continued  to  pass  without  working  any  material 
change  in  Merton.  At  length,  having  had  a  fit  of  sickness 
which  left  him  weak  in  mind  as  well  as  body,  and  seemed 
in  a  measure  to  have  impaired  his  faculties,  he  became  more 
vulnerable.  Seeing  the  opportunity,  Mrs.  Steel  took  up  her 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  75 

task  with  renewed  hope,  and,  approaching  him  on  the  side 
which  his  condition  suggested,  said,  "  I  hope  your  suffering 
has  been  for  your  good ;  that  it  has  aroused  you  to  a  sense  of 
your  sin,  and  made  you  resolve  to  change  your  course." 

"  It  is  too  late  —  too  near  the  close  of  the  voyage,  I  fear." 

"  It  is  never  too  late  to  do  well,  Rufus." 

"  That  which  you  complain  of,  Mary,  will  soon  be  termi 
nated  by  the  common  course  of  nature.  Yet  I  have  resolved 
that,  while  I  live,  I  will  do  all  the  good  I  can ;  and  even  after 
I  am  gone  I  shall  continue  to  be  kind  towards  them,  if  a  will 
in  their  favor  may  be  so  considered." 

"  Can  you  think  of  such  an  unblushing  exposure  as  that  ? 
Will  you  so  perpetuate  the  disgrace  ?  Thus  circumstanced, 
they  will  not  only  claim  the  connection,  but  substantiate  it  — 
the  very  thing  I  wish  most  to  avoid.  That  course  would  be 
weakness  rather  than  benevolence  ;  for  of  what  value,  I  pray 
you,  can  property  or  liberty  be  to  them,  when  it  is  not  in  the 
power  of  man  to  remove  the  tinge  of  servitude  from  their 
skin  ?  I  hope  that  you  are  not  so  infatuated  as  to  be  deceived 
by  names  !  If  not,  you  will  perceive  that  the  change  which 
you  propose  can  only  take  them  from  labor  to  consign  them  to 
vice.  By  so  doing,  you  repair  no  ill  that  now  is,  but,  on  the 
contrary,  are  arming  temptation  with  a  power  superior  to  that 
which  drew  you  down  ;  for  there  is  something  in  the  delicate 
hand  of  leisure  which  can  take  captive  and  lead  wherever  it 
desires.  Does  this  class  of  persons  ever  marry  ?  You  know 
that  they  rarely  do  ;  and  they  cannot,  except  with  the  coarse, 
the  rude,  or  the  sordid.  Seeing  to  what  a  life  your  fancied 
kindness,  but  real  weakness,  would  conduct  them,  I  ask  you 
to  pause  and  reflect  before  you  so  act." 

"  Would  you  have  me  leave  them  exposed  to  the  rigors  of 
the -law?" 

"  Were  their  case  so  singular  as  to  be  entirely  unknown  to 


76  THE    MUSTEK,    OB 

the  law,  it  might  plead  for  some  special  privilege.  But  the 
singularity  is  entirely  in  your  way  of  viewing  it.  The  law 
which  points  out  their  place,  and  prescribes  their  sphere,  is  not 
a  peculiar  oppression  ;  and  to  relieve  them  from  its  action  will 
awaken  hope  in  the  bosoms  of  many  of  their  class  only  to  end 
in  disappointment,  and  so  you  would  actually  increase  suffer 
ing.  Hence,  considered  in  all  its  bearings,  it  is  an  error  of 
judgment  to  free  a  slave  ;  for  in  removing  one  from  bondage, 
you  awake  reflection  and  excite  hopes  that  may  put  the  lives 
of  many  masters  in  peril.  Partial  exceptions  are  dangerous 
to  the  public  peace,  and  the  legislature  should  withdraw  from 
the  citizen  the  power  of  making  them.  If  there  is  to  be  any 
amelioration  it  should  fall  equally  on  all  —  that  is  the  way  of 
wisdom ;  only  he  who  moves  in  that  direction  is  entitled  to  the 
name  of  friend  to  humanity,  or  even  to  the  slave." 

"  You  may  be  right,  Mary ;  but  to  make  them  free  and  com 
fortable  is  all  the  reparation  that  lies  in  my  power,  and  con 
science  will  be  satisfied  with  no  less." 

"  Conscience !  that  is  disease,  Rufus  !  The  very  first 
movement  of  conscience  would  be  to  warn  you  from  the  error 
of  your  way." 

Merton  had  become  singularly  open  to  this  mode  of  attack, 
and  Mrs.  Steel  pursued  him  with  every  pitiless  weapon  with 
which  she  was  acquainted. 

At  length  he  so  far  yielded  to  her  importunity,  or  his  own 
apprehensions,  as  to  say  that  he  would  try  to  separate  from 
them. 

"  Dear  brother,"  replied  the  proud  and  correct  Mrs.  Steel, 
"  it  is  a  noble  resolution,  and  Heaven  will  help  you  to  keep  it ; 
so,  in  a  little  while,  we  shall  see  you  restored  to  true  happi 
ness,  and  accepted  by  virtuous  society." 

"  No,  I  can  never  see  happiness  more  !  When  this  tie  is 
severed  I  shall  drift  down  the  dark  current  alone." 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  77 

"  Alone,  Rufus !  Have  I  not  often  urged  you  to  come  to 
me  ?  and,  if  you  will,  you  shall  find  as  fair  a  home  as  ever 
was  formed  by  a  sister's  love.  In  granting  me  this  boon,  you 
have  given  me  all  that  I  can  ever  ask  at  your  hands  ;  indeed 
it  fills  my  desire.'* 

Mrs.  Steel  artfully  assumed  that  her  brother  had  consented 
to  her  utmost  wish,  knowing  that  he  religiously  respected  the 
faintest  semblance  of  a  promise ;  and  Merton  made  no  remon 
strance  against  the  assumption,  as  he  had  no  inclination  to 
open  the  painful  subject  afresh,  to  discuss  it  further,  but  si 
lently  reviewed  his  concessions  and  fixed  his  position. 
7* 


78  THEMUSTEE,    OR 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

Men  make  resolves,  and  pass  into  decrees 
The  motions  of  the  mind.    With  how  much  ease, 
In  such  resolves,  doth  passion  make  a  flaw, 
And  bring  to  nothing  what  was  raised  to  law  ! 

CHURCHILL. 

How  few  can  visit  the  panorama  of  their  past  lives  with 
pleasure  !  They  see  too  many  sad  vistas ;  too  many  graves  of 
the  gifted  and  the  loved  ;  too  many  gloomy  spots  where  bright 
hopes  and  high  resolves  fainted  and  fell ;  and  too  many  long 
tracts  lying  bleak  and  desolate,  with  here  and  there  a  haggard 
ruin,  haunted  with  upbraiding  voices. 

If  Merton's  last  interview  with  his  sister  made  him  sad  and 
sleepless,  it  spurred  him  to  action.  Desiring,  first  of  all,  to 
provide  for  those  who  were  dependent  on  him,  he  called  at 
the  office  of  William  Rutledge,  Esq.,  a  member  of  the  bar, 
who,  although  a  much  younger  man  than  himself,  was  yet  his 
long-tried  and  intimate  friend  —  a  counsellor  in  trouble,  a  com 
panion  in  leisure,  and  conspicuous  for  excellence  in  both. 

To  a  man  like  Merton,  who  felt  the  need  of  continual 
sympathy,  Rutledge  was  a  treasure,  as  he  could  trust  him 
with  his  open  heart  —  indeed,  secrets  constantly  flowed  to 
him,  drawn  by  the  spell  of  his  power.  It  may  be  that  the 
Indian  blood  in  his  veins  had  marked  his  mind  to  receive  con 
fidence,  and  to  keep  it  with  that  sacredness  which  was  a  charac 
teristic  of  the  noblest  of  the  aborigines ;  for  the  strain  was 
high,  whether  you  traced  the  Saxon  or  the  savage  current. 
Almost  feminine  in  the  delicacy  of  his  make  and  the  gentleness 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  79 

of  his  manner,  he  yet  had  the  falcon  cast  of  countenance,  with 
wing  and  spirit  for  the  loftiest  game,  if  such  darkened  along 
the  sky  to  fling  a  shadow  on  his  path.  -Graceful,  powerful, 
and  commanding  as  these  traits  made  him,  still  it  was  his  large 
heart,  above  all,  which  gave  him  to  be  the  legal  adviser  and 
daily  associate  of  the  generous  merchant. 

On  entering  the  office,  Merton  took  his  accustomed  seat, 
—  for  he  was  in  the  habit  of  spending  some  time  there  every 
day,  —  and  inquired,  "  Are  you  at  leisure  this  morning,  Mr. 
Rutledge?" 

"  If  pleasure  be  in  your  mind,  such  as  a  ride  down  to  the 
plantation,"  replied  he,  smiling,  "  I  must  say  no  :  if  business, 
it  is  possible  I  might  say  yes ;  for  you  look  serious  enough  to 
be  thinking  of  your  last  will  and  testament." 

"  It  has  been  the  subject  of  my  thoughts,  Rutledge,  and  it 
is  their  restlessness  which  made  me  seek  you  so  early  this 
morning." 

"  I  hope  you  find  yourself  quite  relieved  from  your  late 
attack,  my  friend,"  said  Rutledge,  laying  the  smallest  hand 
that  ever  man  had  upon  the  broad  shoulder  of  Merton. 

"  Yes,  I  think  I  am ;  and  that,  you  know,  is  an  important 
fact  to  establish,  when  the  testator  has  distributed  his  estate  in 
an  uncommon  and  perhaps  distasteful  form.  I  know  that  it  is 
the  custom  of  men  who  have  lived  as  I  do  to  leave  little  trace 
of  it  on  record.  Yet,  although  on  some  accounts  it  would  be 
very  agreeable  to  me  if  I  could  escape  it,  I  see  no  way  now 
that  it  can  be  done,  and  carry  out  what  I  believe  to  be  my 
duty.  How  different  is  the  life  we  look  back  upon  from  the 
one  we  looked  forward  to !  How  many  things  there  are,  to 
which  we  cling,  that  we  would  not  like  to  confess  on  the  cor 
ners  of  the  streets!  Still,  I  may  say  to  you,  it  tinges  my 
cheek  when  I  imagine  that  some  one,  who  may  take  my  name 
and  bear  it  on,  will  come  to  examine  the  disposing  record, 


80  THEMUSTEEjOR 

and,  feeling  the  stain,  blush  for  me  with  my  blood !  when  none 
can  tell  the  circumstances  which  might  help  to  excuse  me." 

"  I  am  aware  haw  tender  you  are  on  that  subject ;  but  the 
view  which  the  feeling  leads  you  to  take  is  not  quite  the  true 
one.  I,  indeed,  look  upon  it  with  far  different  emotions ;  for 
the  propensities  of  our  nature  will  not  change,  neither  will 
humanity  be  a  reproach.  And  if  there  ever  come  those  who 
can  regard  a  token  of  reparation  in  the  light  you  speak  of, 
why  may  we  not  fling  forward  the  scorn  which  would  greet 
them  if  they  breathed  it  now  ?  When  such  persons  take  your 
name  they  will  be  unworthy  to  wear  it ;  though  they  should 
mortify  their  flesh,  never  so  severely,  with  scourge  and  fast 
ing.  No ;  you  may  cjaerish  a  more  cheerful  hope,  and  do  the 
deed,  believing  that  generosity  and  kindness  will  increase  with 
freedom ;  or,  at  least,  that  they  may  continue  to  characterize 
great  souls  when  the  curtain  of  green  turf  shall  veil  the  stage 
and  the  actors  from  our  eyes." 

"  It  may  be  so  ;  certainly  your  words  cheer  me,  and  incline 
me  to  do  in  the  matter  what  I  believe  to  be  the  best  that  can 
be  done." 

"  Your  plan  has  my  warm  approval,"  said  Rutledge,  taking 
up  his  pen  ;  "  and  I  am  ready  for  item  first." 

On  which,  thinking  a  moment,  Merton  said,  "I  give  to 
Anthony  Featherstone,  Esq.,  of  New  York  city,  attorney  at 
law,  on  account  of  the  affection  I  bore  his  deceased  mother, 
and  the  esteem  in  which  I  hold  him,  the  sum  of  fifty  thousand 
dollars,  to  be  paid  by  my  executor  herein  after  named. 

"  I  give  to  my  housekeeper,  Madam,  and  also  to  her  daugh 
ter,  Flora,  their  freedom  ;  and  I  hereby  direct  my  executor, 
hereinafter  named,  to  take  the  necessary  legal  steps  to  manu 
mit  them  as  soon  as  may  be  after  my  decease.  I  also  give 
them,  or  the  survivor  of  them,  the  house  where  they  now  live, 
together  with  the  furniture,  appurtenances,  and  provisions  in 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  81 

the  said  house  at  the  period  of  my  decease,  to  their  sole  use 
and  benefit.  I  further  give  each  of  them  ten  thousand  dol 
lars,  or  the  survivor  of  them  twenty  thousand  dollars,  to  be 
paid  by  my  executor,  hereinafter  named,  from  my  city  stocks 
at  their  par  value  —  the  interest  or  income  of  which,  I  hope, 
may  be  found  sufficient  for  their  comfortable  support  and 
maintenance. 

"  I  give  all  the  rest  and  residue  of  my  estate,  of  whatso 
ever  name  or  nature,  to  be  equally  divided,  after  all  just  de 
mands  against  said  estate  have  been  paid,  between  the  children 
of  my  sister,  Mary  Merton  Steel,  wife  of  Ward  Steel,  and  the 
aforesaid  Featherstone  —  meaning  that  each  child  of  my  sister 
Mary  shall  take  equally  with  the  said  Featherstone. 

"  I  hereby  name  and  appoint  William  Rutledge,  Esq.,  of 
New  Orleans,  attorney  at  law,  to  be  the  sole  executor  of  this 
my  last  will  and  testament." 

"  I  should  think,"  said  Rutledge,  "  that  this  matter  had  been 
shaping  itself  in  your  mind  for  some  time,  by  the  fluency  of 
your  speech  and  the  forms  which  your  thoughts  have  taken." 

"  You  can  say  nothing  more  true  than  that ! "  Merton 
replied.  "  It  has  pressed  upon  me  by  night  and  by  day ;  and 
when  I  have  executed  the  instrument,  a  weight  will  be  re 
moved  which  has  become  painful." 

"  In  any  event  I  am  glad  that  you  have  proceeded  to  action, 
partly  for  the  reason  which  you  assign,  but  chiefly  because  I 
believe  you  have  done  right ;  arid  I  will  add  that  I  think  it 
nobly  done  towards  those  who  can  look  to  you  alone  for  care 
and  comfort,  or  even  protection.  Your  estate  is  so  ample 
that  your  nephews  and  nieces  will  scarcely  perceive  that  their 
legacies  have  been  diminished  ;  and,  besides,  their  home  ex 
pectations  are  large ;  while  this  Mr.  Featherstone  will  find 
himself  wealthy  —  and,  by  the  way,  I  think  that  I  have  heard 
of  his  mother." 


82  THEMUSTEE,     OR 

"  Yes,"  replied  Her  ton,  sadly  smiling,  "  I  believe  that  you 
are  acquainted  with  her  story ;  such  things  crowd  around  an 
instrument  like  this,  and  I  am  not  inclined  to  resist  their 
influence,  although  it  may  seem  a  weakness." 

"Not  to  me,"  said  Rutledge.  "Although  most  wills  are 
mere  skeletons,  I  like  to  see  them  with  some  traces  of  flesh 
and  blood.  And  with  regard  to  the  executor  of  this  instru 
ment,  if  he  ever  come  to  act  as  such,  he  will  be  found  to 
understand  how  to  take  his  share  of  the  estate ;  yet  he  may 
well  fear  that  he  shall  not  get  more  than  he  is  now  receiv 
ing  in  two  or  three  sumptuous  dinners  every  week,  with 
other  constant  friendly  attentions  and  recollections." 

"  I  shall  take  care  that  you  do  not  desire  a  change  then," 
replied  Merton.  "  Still  I  hardly  have  faith  to  believe  that 
I  give  as  much  pleasure  as  I  receive  when  you  dine  with 
us  ;  if  so,  I  should  persuade  quite  often  where  now  I  only 
invite." 

"  How  many  times  have  I  entered  without  invitation  ? " 
inquired  Rutledge,  archly. 

"  Never,  to  my  knowledge.  Indeed,  how  could  you  —  see 
ing  that  you  have  been  requested  to  come  at  your  liking  or 
your  leisure  ?  " 

"  I  yield  —  to  the  truth  as  to  the  temptation." 

"  Yield  still  further,  then,"  urged  Merton,  "  so  as  to  favor 
us  by  dining  there  to-day.  And  take  that  instrument  along 
when  you  come,  and,  if  we  are  free  from  other  company,  read 
it  to  one  or  two  who  are  mentioned  therein." 

"  I  have  some  engagements,  yet  I  think  I  can  find  time  to 
draw  out  the  document ;  so  that  you  may  count  on  me  at  half 
past  three  o'clock ;  for  the  favor  you  ask  is  as  agreeable  to 
my  feelings  as  to  my  taste.  And  in  the  course  of  the  evening 
some  of  our  friends  may  call,  whom  we  can  take  for  witnesses, 
and  so  complete  the  business,  if  that  course  will  suit  you." 


LOVE     AN  ^LIBERTY.  83 

"  I  see  no  objection  to  it,  if,  as  I  believe,  there  be  no  neces 
sity  for  those  who  sign  in  such  capacity  to  know  the  contents 
of  the  paper." 

"  It  is  not  at  all  necessary,  and  not  usual ;  their  signatures 
are  evidence  only  of  your  declaration,  signing,  and  sealing." 

"  If  that  be  the  case,  it  will  be  agreeable  to  me  ;  as,  by  so 
doing,  it  may  be  the  sooner  dismissed  from  my  mind." 

So  they  separated ;  after  which  Rutledge  completed  the 
form  of  the  will,  and  when  the  hour  of  dining  came  round  he 
entered  the  house  of  his  friend. 

The  cloth  having  been  removed,  and  the  ladies  being  about 
to  withdraw,  Merton  said,  "  I  wish  you  to  remain  a  few  mo 
ments,  as  Mr.  Rutledge  has  something  to  read  to  us." 

After  some  playful  remarks  upon  the  nature  of  the  story, 
Rutledge  drew  out  a  paper,  and  read  the  last  will  of  Rufus 
Merton,  to  which  they  listened  with  feelings  of  happiness  and 
sadness  strangely  intermingled.  Is  it  singular  that  their  eyes 
were  wet,  when  they  had  to  pass  by  the  grave  of  one  so  well 
beloved  ere  they  could  have  a  view  of  what  lay  beyond? 
Yet  it  did  break  and  scatter  the  thick  darkness  which  is  wont 
to  settle  over  that  solemn  mound  for  such  as  they  —  revealing 
a  secure  path,  if  it  could  not  bring  consolation.  They  hoped, 
indeed,  in  their  fond  hearts,  that  the  fatal  day  might  be  far 
away,  for  his  life  was  immeasurably  more  to  them  than  his 
estate,  as  his  love  had  always  included  it.  Still  their  faces 
beamed  thanks,  seeing  that  he  had  so  generously  reached  for 
ward  to  shield  and  sustain  them,  when  he  could  no  more  raise 
his  protecting  hand. 

In  the  evening  friends  called,  when  the  instrument  was 
executed,  and  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  devisor. 

But  we  have  seen  that,  after  all,  it  was  something  which 
Merton  felt  to  be  a  duty  rather  than  a  pleasure ;  for  it  made 
the  wrong  that  he  had  done,  when  he  had  thus  accomplished 


84:  THEMUSTEE,     OR 

all  the  reparation  in  his  power,  to  stand  out  irreparable  in  its 
great  features  ;  and  privately  perusing  and  meditating  over 
the  instrument,  noble  as  it  was,  it  seemed  to  him  only  a  sol 
emn  acknowledgment  of  that  sad  truth.  So  he  looked  at  it 
frequently,  deeply,  sorrowfully,  and  learned  how  impossible  it 
was  to  purchase  up  the  consequences  of  his  acts.  Too  feeble 
and  self-accusing  to  look  calmly  into  the  future,  he  communed 
with  the  shadows  of  the  past,  and  tinged  them  with  a  gloom 
not  their  own.  In  truth,  his  mind  had  become  so  disordered 
that  he  could  see  nothing  of  his  doing  but  what  appeared  to 
be  evil.  Even  the  long  charm  of  his  life  was  "  fluttering, 
faint,  and  low." 

Madam  became  alarmed  at  his  depression,  and,  perceiving 
that  she  could  do  little  to  alleviate  it,  she  besought  him  to 
take  a  journey.  To  this  he  at  length  gave  ear,  as  the  initia 
tory  step  in  carrying  out  the  promise  which  his  sister  had 
extorted  from  him ;  and,  it  being  the  first  of  June,  he  made 
his  arrangements  to  travel  north,  and  pass  the  summer.  On 
leaving,  Merton  placed  in  the  hands  of  Madam  ample  means 
to  supply  every  thing  which  they  might  desire  during  a  much 
longer  period  than  his  contemplated  absence,  for  he  had  per 
suaded  himself  that  he  should  take  up  his  abode  at  the  St. 
Charles  on  his  return.  This,  however,  he  kept  secret,  out  of 
kindness  towards  them  rather  than  from  any  suspicion  of  the 
failure  of  his  own  resolution. 

It  was  in  the  course  of  this  journey  that  Merton  invited 
Featherstone  to  dine  with  him,  and  found  that  he  was  agree 
able,  vigorous,  and  capable.  Yet  he  met  him  but  once  while 
away,  as  he  was  in  constant  motion,  visiting  all  the  places  of 
fashion,  and  all  the  points  of  interest  to  a  traveller  —  not 
because  he  found  pleasure  in  them,  but  only  hoping  that  they 
might  help  him  to  forget.  In  this  art  he  did  not  make  prog 
ress  ;  for,  in  consequence  of  activity,  his  health  was  returning, 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  85 

with  a  feeling  of  the  life  that  now  is  ;  and  although  he  set  his 
will  against  the  sway  of  his  affections,  they  continued  to  gain 
dominion  over  him  day  by  day. 

It  is  sad  seeking  in  the  gayety  of  the  crowd,  the  serenity 
of  art,  or  the  grandeur  of  nature,  when  we  seek  to  veil  the 
faces  of  those  who  are  dear  to  us,  especially  when  the  show 
is  expected  to  take  the  place  of  those  we  love !  The  heart 
retires  from  all  such  chaffering  for  its  gems,  and  soon  grows 
weary  of  all  outward  attraction. 

It  was  in  this  mood  that  Merton  turned  from  the  throng  to 
enter  the  quiet  village  on  the  edge  of  which  his  youthful  love 
lay  buried.  As  he  bent  before  the  headstone  of  the  grave, 
and  read  her  sculptured  name,  he  was  drawn  back  to  early 
scenes,  to  meditate  on  the  mysterious  frustration  of  our 
schemes ;  on  how  rarely  we  reach  that  which  we  seek  ;  on 
how  different  from  our  plot  Fate  draws  out  the  tragedy  of  life. 

So  he  left  the  sad  place,  more  perplexed  than  ever,  and 
aching  for  sympathy,  yet  struggling  against  thoughts  of  home. 
As  his  health  had  become  quite  reestablished,  go  where  he 
would,  he  found  the  needle  of  his  soul  still  pointing  painfully 
southward,  swerving,  it  might  be,  for  a  few  moments,  to  some 
other  point,  yet  finding  no  rest  there.  Thus  being  made  to 
feel,  day  by  day  and  hour  by  hour,  that,  although  a  voluntary 
wanderer,  he  was  no  less  an  unhappy  exile,  the  early  Septem 
ber  found  him  on  the  way  to  New  Orleans. 

When  he  arrived  out,  he  seemed  to  be  oblivious  of  the 
charms  of  the  St.  Charles  !  and  as  the  shades  of  evening  fell, 
he  entered  into  that  house  over  the  threshold  of  which,  three 
short  months  before,  he  had  persuaded  himself  that  he  could 
refrain  from  passing.  So  the  custom  of  a  lifetime  smiles  at 
the  impotence  of  sickly  resolution,  knowing  that  it  can  succeed 
to  power,  over  far  mightier  obstacles,  well  nigh  when  it  pleases. 
So  he  felt  its  summons,  and  so  he  yielded. 
8 


86  THEMUSTEE,    OR 

Yes ;  Merton  had  come  to  confession  !  and  what  are  they 
who  do  not  know  enough  of  themselves  to  follow  him  with 
pity  ?  Truly,  the  heart  of  man  is  a  great  deep  ;  and  over  all 
its  warm  and  rich  latitudes  trade  winds  sigh,  and  suffer  no 
change  of  direction  ;  only  the  colder  and  more  barren  regions 
are  swept  by  variable  and  uncertain  gales. 

Yet,  after  a  time,  the  memory  of  his  defeat  would  steal  in 
to  trouble  his  spirit,  and  that  of  his  broken  promise  to  re 
proach  him.  That  these  recollections  disturbed  his  repose  is 
sufficiently  apparent  from  the  way  in  which  he  sought  to 
divert  his  thoughts  into  other  channels.  His  letter  of  invi 
tation  to  Featherstone,  written  almost  immediately  after  his 
arrival  home,  is  an  indication  of  the  unrest  of  his  mind.  By 
this  light  we  can  see  how  the  dove  of  his  soul  was  seeking,  in 
outward  activity,  far-reaching  kindness,  and  apparent  benefit, 
some  peak  above  the  flood  to  rest  upon ;  and  no  doubt  it  may 
at  length  return,  on  weary  wing,  with  something  like  the  olive 
of  peace ;  but  it  can  be  only  a  torn  branch,  that  may  never 
take  root  beside  his  door  to  cast  its  protecting  shade  around 
his  hearth. 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  87 


CHAPTER    IX. 

Sweet,  good  night ! 

This  bud  of  love,  by  summer's  ripening  breath, 
May  prove  a  beauteous  flower  when  next  we  meet. 

SHAKSPEARE. 

A  FEW  mornings  after  Merton  had  received  the  letter  of 
Featherstone,  accepting  his  invitation,  he  called  into  the  St. 
Charles,  as  was  his  daily  custom ;  when,  seeing  his  young  rel 
ative's  name  on  the  register,  he  made  inquiry,  and,  learning 
that  he  had  arrived  late  in  the  night,  walked  into  the  reading 
room  to  look  over  the  news  of  the  day  while  awaiting  his 
appearance. 

In  a  short  time,  however,  Featherstone  came  in  from  the 
breakfast  hall,  and  very  cordial  and  mutually  pleasing  was 
their  meeting. 

The  congratulations  being  over,  Merton  remarked,  "  You 
must  be  somewhat  wearied,  or  disturbed  at  least,  by  your  long 
journey,  and  you  should  take  a  few  days  for  rest  and  recrea- 
ion.  Our  city  has  some  attractions ;  and  you  will  find  a 
pleasant  drive  down  to  the  Battle-ground,  or  out  to  Carrol- 
ton,  or  over  the  shell  road  to  the  Lake." 

"I  do  not  feel  the  need  of  repose  or  pastime,"  replied 
Featherstone,  "  as  every  stage  of  the  travel  has  been  agree 
able,  and  without  fatigue ;  and,  if  it  still  be  your  desire,  I 
prefer  to  enter  immediately  into  business  —  taking  views  of 
the  town  and  its  environs'  as  occasional  hours  of  leisure,  in 
the  intervals  of  employment,  may  afford  me  opportunity." 

"  That  shall  be  as  you  please.     And  when  you  are  ready,  I 


88  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

will  introduce  you  to  my  associates  in  business.  They  know 
my  views,  and  are  expecting  you." 

So,  without  more  ceremony,  he  entered  into  the  commission 
house ;  where,  with  a  mind  naturally  keen  and  comprehensive 
for  trade  and  commerce,  and  with  fine  health  and  firm  resolu 
tion,  he  soon  mastered  all  the  forms,  and  became  familiar  with 
the  details,  so  that,  in  a  comparatively  short  time,  he  began 
to  look  forward  and  calculate  the  prospects  and  suggest  op 
erations  which  were  received  with  approbation  and  sealed 
with  success.  If  he  was  skilful  to  please  the  members  of  the 
"  firm,"  and  taught  them  to  feel,  in  many  ways,  that  he  was 
an  acquisition,  he  was  yet  sensitive  to  his  own  independence, 
and  careful  not  to  defer  too  pliantly  to  any,  not  even  to  Mer- 
ton  himself;  but  met  him  with  reasons,  and  won  his  respect 
by  making  him  feel  that  he  also  was  a  man.  It  is  possible  he 
discovered  that  such  a  course  would  best  please  him ;  yet  it  is 
extremely  doubtful  if  he  would  have  taken  any  other,  even 
had  it  appeared  more  useful  at  the  moment,  for  he  was 
shrewd,  and  observation  might  have  taught  him  that  it  was 
next  to  impossible  to  play  a  part  every  hour  in  the  day, 
wherein,  if  he  failed  but  once,  he  would  be  looked  upon  with 
distrust.  Such  disguise  is  a  portion  of  the  daily  dress  of  very 
many.  Yet  no  man  was  ever  so  uncouth  of  manner,  or  dog 
matic  in  opinion,  but  his  natural  habit  was  the  best  for  special 
occasions,  as  well  as  for  common  wear  —  being  not  only  more 
easy,  but  more  becoming  even.  Certainly,  a  simpering  make- 
believe  is  game  quite  too  worthless  for  the  poor  arrows  of 
ridicule. 

From  the  first,  Featherstone  rendered  himself  very  accept 
able  ;  and,  while  he  was  unfolding  his  business  talents  under 
the  keen  and  approving  observation  of  the  merchants,  Merton 
felt  a  degree  of  satisfaction  which  led  him  away  from  looking 
too  curiously  into  his  own  condition.  In  opening  a  path  to 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  89 

affluence  for  the  son  of  his  cousin,  he  had  intended  a  kind 
action  ;  and  now  he  believed  it  to  be  a  wise  one  as  well :  this 
sent  a  current  of  peace  to  his  troubled  heart.  In  fine,  judging 
simply  from  his  appearance,  a  man  of  the  world  might  say  that 
he  was  taking  a  more  healthy  view  of  things  ;  yet,  perhaps,  a 
higher  point  of  observation  would  have  disclosed  a  different 
prospect.  Be  that  as  it  may,  he  certainly  was  more  recon 
ciled  to  his  way  of  life,  as  he  could  again  trust  himself  to 
speak  of  it.  Taking  Featherstone  to  ride  one  day,  —  as  he 
did  frequently  after  business  was  over.  —  he  said,  "  It  is  a 
great  satisfaction  to  me  to  see  that  you  are  making  friends 
here ;  and  you  have  shown  such  talents  for  business  that  we 
hope  you  will  come  to  the  conclusion  to  remain  with  us." 

"  I  like  the  place  and  the  employment,"  replied  Featherstone ; 
"  and,  if  it  be  for  me  to  decide,  the  decision  is  already  made." 

"  Such  being  your  pleasure,  I  will  take  care  that  it  is  for 
your  interest  also,"  said  Merton.  "  But  let  me  caution  you 
against  applying  yourself  so  closely  as  you  have  done ;  for 
much  of  the  year  our  climate  will  not  sanction  it.  You  should 
give  more  hours  to  rest,  and  take  more  frequent  recreation. 
There  is  little  necessity  of  your  returning  to  the  store  after 
dinner,  and  never  so  soon  as  you  do.  The  time  which  is 
socially  and  temperately  passed  at  table  is  not  only  the  bright 
est  of  the  day,  but  is  richly  repaid  in  health  and  length  of  life. 
And,  speaking  of  this,  I  should  like  to  have  you  dine  with  me 
at  my  house  ;  but  I  have  hitherto  refrained  from  asking  the 
favor  because  that,  you  being  from  the  north,  I  feared  my 
way  of  living  might  hurt  your  sense  of  propriety ;  therefore 
I  feel  bound  to  give  you  an  idea  of  it  before  I  go  further. 
You  are  aware  that  I  am  not  married ;  yet  a  woman  of  mixed 
blood  keeps  my  house,  and  has  for  many  years,  and  takes  her 
place  at  my  table,  whoever  may  be  the  guests  —  in  truth,  she 
and  her  daughter  are  my  family." 
8* 


90  THEMUSTEE,     OR 

"  I  see  nothing  in  the  picture  to  deter  me  from  taking  the 
chair  you  offer ;  on  the  contrary,  I  should  like  to  look  upon  it." 

"  If  it  be  every  way  acceptable,  it  will  be  gratifying  to  me 
to  receive  you,"  said  the  patron.  "  So  come  to-morrow  — 
three  o'clock  will  be  in  time." 

Entering  the  city  by  the  canal,  he  drove  through  a  street, 
with  shade  trees  in  the  centre,  and  pointed  out  to  Featherstone 
the  place  of  his  residence ;  which  he  looked  upon  with  eager 
curiosity  as  they  passed  by,  for  he  had  been  fully  informed, 
by  more  than  one,  of  the  elegance  and  luxury  of  the  abode. 

If  rumor  had  exaggerated  his  conception  so  that  he  saw 
nothing  remarkable  in  the  mere  exterior,  his  mind  turned 
all  the  more  readily  to  what  might  be  within  —  and  especially 
on  the  beauty  and  seclusion  of  the  daughter. 

When,  at  length,  the  night  had  passed,  and  so  much  of  the 
day  that  the  time  appointed  for  dining  had  arrived,  punctual 
to  the  moment  he  presented  himself  at  the  door  and  touched 
the  bell,  which  was  answered  by  Pomp,  in  full  official  cos 
tume,  —  black,  with  white  vest,  —  who,  on  learning  his  name, 
conducted  him  into  the  parlor. 

There  Merton  soon  met  him,  and  leading  the  way  to  the 
dining  room  and  the  sideboard,  proffered  every  variety  of 
refreshment  which  that  choice  piece  of  furniture  could  display 
in  the  day  of  its  social  preeminence.  After  a  few  minutes, 
however,  they  returned  to  the  parlor,  when  Madam  came 
down.  Calm  and  self-possessed,  she  glided  easily  into  the 
ordinary  topics  of  conversation ;  fluent,  graceful,  and  so  kindly 
withal,  as  to  make  the  guest  feel  that  he  was  welcome.  Every 
thing  was  touched  with  the  fairest  propriety  ;  so  .much  so,  that, 
when  the  slave  placed  the  tureen  upon  the  table,  and  Pomp 
threw  wide  the  doors,  and  turned  to  his  accustomed  place 
without  a  word,  and  drew  back  her  chair,  while  Featherstone 
led  her  to  the  seat,  and  was  invited  to  take  one  by  her  side,. — 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  91 

if  he  had  come  with  the  expectation  of  seeing  any  thing  sin 
gular,  he  did  not  find  it,  except  in  unusual  deference  and 
friendliness.  The  entertainment  itself  was  of  the  first  order. 
In  richness,  variety,  and  art,  the  courses  surpassed  all  that  he 
had  seen,  and  were  heightened  to  their  utmost  zest  by  the 
ministering  spirits  of  the  world's  vintage,  some  fresh  and 
sparkling,  others  sedate  with  age,  and  sunned  to  perfection ; 
while  all  the  attendant  circumstances  flowed  on  with  the  ease 
and  harmony  of  a  daily  custom. 

Agreeable  as  was  every  part  of  the  feast  to  Featherstone's 
inclination  and  increasing  habit,  he  yet  felt  disappointment  in 
not  meeting  the  daughter ;  but  thought  it  not  wise  to  inquire 
the  reason,  still  hoping  to  see  her  before  the  evening  had 
passed  away.  . 

As  the  dinner  drew  to  a  close,  and  he  found  leisure  to  con 
template  the  scene,  he  felt  that  he  was  not  only  in  gentle  and 
cultivated  presence,  but  that  every  word  and  glance  were 
tokens  of  affection.  Of  that  glowing  temperament  for  which 
her  color  is  celebrated,  Madam  could  be  said  to  have,  at  that 
period  of  her  life,  only  traces  of  beauty ;  and  perhaps  it  was 
never  so  remarkable  as  in  many  of  quadroon  blood ;  yet  her 
sweet  soft  voice  and  yielding  grace  made  it  easy  to  perceive, 
that,  if  fascinated  by  the  first  notes,  you  would  fain  linger  for 
the  last  strain  of  the  song.  And  chafed  and  tossed  by  the 
fierce  surges  of  commerce,  as  Merton  must  have  been  in  his 
long  career,  one  could  see  that  there  he  ever  found  a  placid 
and  sunny  haven. 

At  the  usual  hour  the  horses  were  drawn  up  before  the 
door,  and,  dinner  being  over,  the  gentlemen  took  seats  in  the 
carriage  for  Lake  Pontchartrain,  —  one  of  the  most  charming 
of  drives,  —  where  the  soft  south  wind  whispered  to  the  trees, 
fanned  the  savanna,  and  just  agitated  the  susceptible  surface 
of  the  refreshing  water,  from  the  shore  of  which  they  gazed 


92  THE     MUST  BE,     OR 

on  the  glory  of  the  departing  sun,  as  he  bent  over  the  wave 
with  a  lambent  glance,  and  gave  its  sweet  bosom  a  parting 
kiss  ere  he  sank  to  rest. 

It  was  a  clear  and  serene  evening  in  which  they  loitered 
home,  while  the  pale  shadows  began  to  flit  along  the  landscape 
as  the  full  moon  came  forth  to  queen  the  night,  and  unfold  a 
world  of  beauty  that  fills  with  adoration  those  who  own  fealty 
to  her  throne. 

When,  at  length,  they  drew  rein  before  the  eastern  entrance 
to  the  house,  where,  the  door  standing  open,  the  level  moon 
beams  had  glided  in  to  play  with  the  shadows  and  turn  every 
thing  to  picture,  and  amid  which  Madam  appeared  like  a 
fresco,  smiling  and  breathing  welcome,  —  Merton  felt  the  night 
to  be  his  friend ;  and  Featherstone  thought  of  what  he  had 
heard,  and  read,  and  dreamed  of  sunny  climes  and  secluded 
bowers. 

As  they  entered,  Madam  said  to  Merton,  "  Some  gentlemen 
wait  for  you  in  the  dining  room." 

On  which  announcement  he  passed  in,  while  Featherstone 
paused  to  speak  with  the  quadroon.  But  seeing  another  lady  at 
that  moment  quite  near  him,  though  in  shadow,  it  arrested  his 
remark,  which  Madam  observing,  she  said,  "  Mr.  Featherstone, 
permit  me  to  introduce  you  to  my  daughter  Flora." 

Being  thus  called  forth,  she  arose  and  advanced  a  step  into 
the  moonlight,  which  flashed  from  her  dark  locks,  and  seemed, 
to  Featherstone's  excited  imagination,  to  flow  and  nestle  over 
all  her  form,  like  bees  on  the  fairest  and  sweetest  flower  of 

"  The  gardens  of  Gul  in  her  bloom." 

Featherstone  also  advanced,  and  taking  her  hand,  said,  "  It 
gives  me  pleasure  to  meet  you  ;  indeed,  I  hoped  to  see  you  at 
dinner ;  and  I  should  like  to  hear  what  excuse  you  can  offer 
for  being  absent." 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  93 

"The  time  is  not  suited  to  my  studies,"  she  replied,  smiling; 
"  for  at  that  hour  I  take  a  lesson  in  French  from  one  of  the 
Sisters  of  Charity." 

"  Your  mother  might  readily  save  you  the  trouble  of  going 
from  the  house  for  that  learning,  or  at  least  occasionally ;  for 
I  observe  that  she  speaks  the  language  with  ease." 

"  O,  no,"  said  Madam  ;  "  I  should  be  a  poor  teacher,  for  I 
am  not  always  certain  of  my  accent  when  I  pass  out  of  the 
common  phrases  of  conversation.  And  Sister  Henrietta  is  a 
native  of  Paris,  and  knows  the  best  usage  ;  and  besides  this, 
which  makes  her  so  desirable  an  instructress,  the  money  that 
she  thus  acquires  finds  its  way,  like  rays  from  heaven,  into 
the  darkest  paths  of  distress." 

"  They  are  a  singular  class  of  women,"  Featherstone  re 
marked  ;  "  and  I  have  read  something  of  the  charities  of  her 
order ;  yet  I  confess  to  little  interest  in  their  faith,  and  less  in 
their  persons." 

"  But  Sister  Henrietta  is  a  charming  person  ! "  interrupted 
Flora. 

"  There  may  be  exceptions,"  Featherstone  explained.  "  I 
hope  she  has  not  quite  persuaded  you  into  adopting  her  way 
of  life." 

"  She  has  deeply  interested  me  in  herself,"  Flora  replied. 
"  Indeed,  I  like  her  so  much  that  I  have  no  wish  to  close  my 
lessons.  There  is  something  so  gentle  in  her  ways,  so  touch 
ing  in  her  accents,  and  so  pensive  in  her  expression,  that  I 
linger  near  her  when  I  should  leave,  wishing  to  hear  her 
story,  yet  fearing  to  ask  the  favor.  And  yet  she  makes  me 
sad  —  seeming  as  if  when  she  spoke,  it  would  be  of  the  loved 
and  the  lost ;  for  she  appears  as  though  she  awaited  some  one 
who  is  long  in  corning." 

"  Has  she  youth  and  beauty  ?  "  inquired  Featherstone. 

"  I  have  never  thought  of  them,  she  is  so  lovely,"  replied 


94  THE     MUSTEK,     OB 

Flora,  "and  has  such  courage  amid  the  fever  —  such  feeling 
for  those  who  suffer." 

"  Then  sbe  is,  probably,  trying  to  escape  from  disappoint 
ment  in  devotion  ;  or  in  some  desperate  hour  has  been  lured 
to  the  taking  irrevocable  vows,  which  appoint  her  to  a  mission 
beyond  teaching  French  and  ministering  to  the  sick — being 
an  instrument  of  that  Power,  which,  seeking  for  universal 
dominion,  enters  every  avenue  of  distress,  penetrates  every 
passage  to  the  heart,  carrying  comforts  rather  than  the  cruci 
fix  to  the  dying  parent ;  hoping  thereby  to  gain  the  child  that 
it  may  enervate  the  conscience  so  as  to  stamp  the  mind  with 
its  opinions  ;  thus  slowly  but  surely  leading  back  the  genera 
tions  to  the  Roman  fold.  What  work  are  you  reading  with 
her  now  ?  " 

"  We  finished  Corinne  to-day,  and  it  made  me  very  melan 
choly  ;  while  Sister  Henrietta's  eyes  filled  with  tears  over 
many  passages,  so  that  I  was  ready  to  believe,  had  it  been 
possible,  in  point  of  time,  that  she  was  Corinne  herself,  only 
that  the  sister  was  more  resigned  to  her  fate." 

Madam  here  asked  to  be  excused,  saying  that  she  had 
engagements  for  a  short  time. 

When  she  had  gone,  Flora  and  Featherstone  walked  to  the 
door,  as  if  simultaneously  drawn  by  the  moonlight,  which  was 
softly  leaving  the  hall  as  the  orb  ascended. 

Standing  near,  they  were  silent  for  a  few  moments,  when 
Featherstone  said,  in  his  softest  and  most  subdued  tone,  "  You 
must  not  so  wrong  me  as  to  be  absent  when  I  dine^here  again." 

"  Is  not  a  night  like  this  more  lovely  than  the  day  to  meet 
in  ?  "  she  inquired,  as  she  looked  out  on  shadow  and  tree,  with 
the  leaves  just  kissed  by  the  breeze,  and  saw,  bending  above 
them,  the  sky  from  which  the  stars  seemed  to  have  withdrawn 
while  Diana  walked  the  heavens  and  mused  of  love  and 
lonely  fate. 


LOVE    AND    LIBEKTY.  95 

"  It  is  truly  a,  most  charming  evening,"  replied  he  ;  "  and 
to  remain  in  the  house  is  almost  wronging  the  hour ;  do  you 
enjoy  walking  at  such  times  ?  " 

"  I  rarely  step  out  after  dark  ;  yet  the  calm  and  brooding 
beauty  of  the  scene  seems  to  whisper,  '  Come  ! ' " 

"  Then  I  hope  you  will  kindly  listen  and  permit  me  to  go 
with  you." 

On  this,  with  a  sweet  assenting  smile,  she  disappeared. 
But,  in  a  few  moments,  the  rustle  that  had  died  away  in  some 
chamber  rose  again,  and  with  a  folded  shawl  on  her  arm  and 
bonnet  in  hand,  she  joined  Featherstone  at  the  door.  He 
took  the  garment,  and,  while  she  was  tying  her  bonnet, 
wrapped  it  gracefully  and  tenderly  around  her  form,  and, 
taking  her  hand,  drew  her  arm  gently  within  his  as  they 
turned  down  the  quiet  street. 

Touched  with  new  and  thrilling  emotion  —  for  he  still 
retained  her  hand  —  she  walked  in  silence.  He,  too,  felt  the 
power  of  the  spell,  and  at  length  said,  in  a  tone  accordant 
therewith,  "Your  teacher  must  be  a  charming  person  to  have 
so  won  your  heart  as  she  seems  to  have  done." 

"  She  is  gentle  and  —  affectionate,"  said  Flora,  trembling 
with  the  weight  of  the  word. 

"  Have  you  ever  loved  any  other  so  tenderly  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  Oswald  lured  me  from  her  for  a  time,  until  I  found 
that  he  had  married  another  and  left  Corinne  to  mourn,"  she 
replied,  with  ingenuous  ardor.  "  Yet  I  felt  so  sad  for  his  loss, 
seeing  how  it  came,  that  I  could  not  hate,  I  could  only  pity 
him ! " 

"  How  deeply  you  sympathize,  to  find  in  books  this  pulsing 
life !  Yet  only  such  should  look  into  that  mirror,  so  full  of 
the  reflection  of  the  writer's  heart,  ever  yearning  for  deeper 
and  still  deeper  experiences  of  love  —  as  though  fortune's 


96  THEMUSTEE,OB 

height  was  cold,  fame's  wreath  repulsive,  if  one  chosen  eye  did 
not  smile  on  and  adore  the  achiever  of  them.'' 

"  I  know  that  it  is  what  they  call  fiction  ;  yet  it  seems  to 
me  so  true  !  Do  you  not  think  it  natural  ?  " 

"  Yes,  it  is  nature,  heightened  by  art  and  glowing  with  poetry, 
such  as  we  hope  to  find  her  invested  with,  such  as  we  will 
dream  we  may." 

So  concluding,  (they  having  reached  the  door  on  their  re 
turn,)  he  pressed  her  hand  to  his  lips  ;  for  he  was  one  of  those 
who  win  through  selfish  audacity  what  the  generous  cannot 
take  even  when  it  seems  to  be  offered  ;  and  whispering  adieu, 
passed  out  and  away,  full  of  the  wild  emotion  which  anticipa 
tion  yields  to  such  natures  in  such  hours. 

If  he  had  some  doubts  how  his  attentions  to  the  daughter 
would  be  received  by  her  parents,  they  wrere  dissipated  when 
Merton,  in  the  course  of  the  morning  meeting  him  in  the 
counting  room  alone,  said,  "  Now  that  you  have  learned  the 
way  to  my  house,  Mr.  Featherstone,  I  hope  you  will  take 
your  dinner  there  often.  I  should  like  to  have  you  come 
without  further  ceremony  whenever  you  are  so  inclined ;  and 
you  wTill  find  ample  room  and  a  friendly  welcome.  When  you 
cannot  make  it  convenient  to  dine  with  us,  call  up  in  the 
evening ;  we  shall  always  be  glad  to  see  you." 

The  friendliness  and  scope  of  the  invitation  were  so  unex 
pected  to  Featherstone  that  it  gave  him  some  embarrassment ; 
which  was  certainly  a  new  vein  in  him,  as  he  expressed  his 
acknowledgments,  and  spoke  of  the  pleasure  of  the  visit.  He, 
in  truth,  was  thinking  more  of  the  opportunity  for  continuing 
his  attentions  to  the  daughter  than  of  the  words  of  his  reply. 
Cautious  at  first,  he  gradually  availed  himself  of  Merton 's 
invitation  to  the  full  extent ;  particularly  for  the  evenings, 
wherein  he  took  a  lively  interest  in  all  that  gave  Flora  pleasure 
or  employment. 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  97 

So  he  approached  her  ;  so  through  the  winter  he  pressed 
on,  assiduously  unfolding  her  affections  and  gaining  her  con 
fidence  with  all  the  appliances  known  to  that  kind  of  conquest 
under  the  most  favorable  circumstances. 

But  why  tell  the  often-repeated  tale  that  another  all- 
trusting  heart  had  listened  to  the  summons,  believing  it  to  be 
love,  when  it  had  no  deeper  meaning  than  passion,  and 
yielded  the  treasure  of  her  affections  to  one  who  not  only 
gave  no  bond,  but  would  be  full  likely  to  squander  it  or  toss 
it  among  his  companions  in  arms  when  he  marched  on  ! 

Yet  she  loved,  and,  having  but  little  hope  besides,  she  lis 
tened.  Let  us  not  censure,  but  ask  if  the  fault  be  not  partly 
ours.  Let  us  remember  that  the  circumstances  of  her  birth, 
with  the  inhuman  laws  and  prejudices  which  beset  her  race, 
had  not  only  dimmed  alji  brighter  prospect  in  that  direction, 
but  had  left  yawning  at  her  feet  a  fiery  gulf,  which  made  this 
seem  a  heaven. 

9 


98  THEMUSTEE,    OR 


CHAPTER    X. 

Ye  who  hare  known  what  'tis  to  dote  upon 
A  few  dear  objects,  will  in  sadness  feel 
Such  partings  break  the  heart  they  fondly  hope  to  heal. 

BYRON. 

As  the  spring  advanced,  the  fact  intimated  at  the  close  of 
the  last  chapter  became ,  known  to  Merton.  At  first  he 
was  filled  with  astonishment,  and  burned  as  with  fire.  Then 
he  doubted  its  possibility ;  for  he  had  thought  of  his  daughter 
only  as  a  child.  This  roused  indignation  against  Feather- 
stone.  But,  when  the  first  lacerating  emotions  had  subsided, 
he  began  to  see,  in  the  way  which  they  had  taken,  so  strong  a 
likeness  to  his  own  indefensible  course,  that  all  thought  of  it 
recoiled  upon  himself  with  the  deepest  condemnation.  So 
applying  the  moral,  he  grew  more  lenient  than  ever  towards 
others,  and  took  home  to  the  silence  of  his  own  bosom  more 
than  he  could  bear.  This  unceasing  pressure  bore  down  his 
health,  and  at  length  shattered  his  mind.  He  walked,  as  it 
were,  in  a  cloud  which  dimmed  the  light  of  home,  and  repelled 
him  from  the  public  places  of  the  city.  Even  the  smile  of 
his  acquaintance  hurt  him  ;  and  if  they  passed  with  a  serious 
face,  it  wounded  still  deeper. 

His  friends  saw  the  effect,  and  thought  his  constitution  was 
breaking  up.  His  physician  advised  a  change  of  air ;  to 
which  proposition  Merton  acceded  as  he  would  have  accepted 
medicine  from  his  hand.  If  thence  came  the  motion,  it  was 
business  that  gave  direction  to  his  steps.  In  truth,  its  far- 
stretching  threads  seemed  to  draw  him  away ;  as  some  time 


LOVE     AND    LIBERTY.  99 

during  the  year  a  correspondent  of  their  house,  who  lived  in 
one  of  the  southern  cities  of  Europe,  had  become  insolvent ; 
and  in  distributing  his  assets  a  valuable  real  estate  had  been 
decreed  to  them,  making  it  necessary  that  one  of  the  "  firm " 
should  visit  the  place  in  order  to  come  into  legal  possession. 

Towards  this  Merton  came  to  look,  not  hopefully,  but  as  the 
fairest  prospect  which  lay  open.  When  he  had  settled  on  his 
course  and  made  some  preliminary  arrangements,  he  invited 
Featherstone  to  a  private  interview. 

That  gentleman  trembled  as  the  hour  of  meeting  ap 
proached  ;  and  at  one  moment,  such  were  his  apprehensions, 
he  thought  of  avoiding  it  altogether  by  flight.  But  having  so 
much  at  stake,  he  quickly  banished  that  idea  ;  and  while  trying 
to  nerve  himself  for  the  emergency  Merton  entered.  Yet  he 
came  in  so  humbly  that  Featherstone  saw,  at  once,  there 
were  no  reproaches  to  fear.  Indeed,  he  seemed  like  a  sup 
pliant  ;  for  he  was  thinking  how  completely  the  happiness  of 
Flora  was  in  his  keeping.  Hence  he  had  determined  to  treat 
him  gently  and  generously,  so  that  he  might  not  only  retain 
kind  recollections  of  him,  but  have  it  in  his  power  to  make 
the  path  of  those  easy  whom  he  found  it  necessary  to  trust  so 
absolutely  to  his  care. 

Hastening  to  speak,  —  for  he  saw  that  it  would  be  a  relief  to 
Featherstone,  —  he  said,  "  I  have  some  thoughts  of  going 
abroad  soon." 

"  I  saw  by  your  despatches  that  such  a  journey  had  become 
necessary,"  said  Featherstone,  with  something  of  his  usual 
confidence  of  tone. 

"  At  my  time  of  life."  resumed  Merton,  "  so  long  and  ad 
venturous  a  journey  ought  to  be  prefaced  with  all  the  forms 
which  one  would  think  it  necessary  to  use  if  he  knew  that  he 
should  never  return.  Feeling  this  to  be  my  true  course,  I 
find  it  incumbent  on  me  to  dissolve  my  connection  with  the 


100  THEMUSTEE,    OR 

house  of  Merton  &  Co.  That,  however,  will  require  but  little 
examination,  as  it  is  my  intention  to  transfer  my  entire  in 
terest  there  to  you ;  also  the  house  where  I  live  and  all  it  con 
tains,  together  with  the  horses,  carriages,  and  stable.  And, 
as  you  are  a  lawyer,  I  wish  you  to  draw  up  the  titles  in  the 
way  that  will  most  effectually  secure  the  estate  and  appurte 
nances  to  your  sole  use  and  benefit.  You  can  do  it  without 
making  much  stir,  which  is  what  I  desire  most  particularly  to 
avoid.  Having  still  other  property  of  value  in  the  city,  if,  in 
my  communication  inviting  you  here,  I  awoke  expectations 
which  these  gifts  do  not  fully  realize,  I  wish  you  to  say  so, 
and  you  shall  have  more,  as  my  near  relatives  have  no  need 
of  it ;  and  what  I  do  not  give  you  now,  or  at  some  future 
time,  I  shall  leave  for  the  law  to  divide." 

"  It  is  ample  !  You  have  most  profusely  given  !  so  that 
my  expectations,  as  my  skill  in  thanks,  are  far  surpassed. 
But  these  titles,  of  which  you  speak,  contemplate  my  imme 
diate  possession  ;  would  it  not  be  much  better  for  yourself  to 
make  a  will  in  my  favor?  " 

"  O,  no !  no !  I  desire  to  avoid  that  instrument  altogether," 
Merton  replied,  with  increased  energy. 

"  Excuse  me  if  I  seem  to  advise,"  interposed  Featherstone  ; 
"  but  are  you  not  pruning  so  deep  that  you  may  regret  it  when 
you  return  ?  " 

"  I  think  not.  And  that  which  I  give  you  I  feel  to  be  still 
my  own,  with  the  assurance  that  it  will  go  on  increasing." 

Understanding  him  too  literally,  Featherstone  inquired, 
"  Do  you  wish  me  to  give  you  a  bond  to  that  effect  ?  " 

"I  see  no  occasion  for  it;  for  there  is  a  satisfaction  in 
trusting,  as  well  as  in  giving,  which  I  desire  to  take.  Were 
this  property  passing  into  the  keeping  of  any  other,  I  should 
have  much  to  say  about  the  final  disposition  of  certain  persons, 
in  case  I  should  not  return ;  but  I  now  yield  up  that  respon- 


LOVE    AND    LIBE>lY, 

sibility,  leaving  it  to  rest  entirely  with  you.  My  feelings  with 
relation  to  them  you  surely  know,  for  they  must  find  a  voice 
in  your  own  bosom."  The  tears  stood  in  his  eyes  as  he  fin 
ished  this  sentence,  and  his  lips  so  quivered  that  there  was 
silence.  But  in  a  moment  he  resumed,  saying,  "I  wish  you, 
also,  to  take  charge  of  the  estate  which  I  reserve,  receiving 
the  rents  and  dividends  during  my  absence,  and  place  the 
money  —  after  my  family  expenses  are  paid  —  to  my  credit  in 
account  with  my  bankers." 

"  I  will  attend  to  that,  and  whatever  else  you  desire  me 
to  do." 

"  Be  careful  of  my  family.  Use  the  means  in  your  hands 
for  their  comfort.  Such  is  my  will,  and  in  nothing  do  I  need 
a  more  faithful  executor.  For  the  money  that  it  may  please 
them  to  spend,  as  well  as  the  property  which  goes  to  you,  it 
gives  me  true  pleasure  to  bestow.  The  thoughts  which  such 
acts  form  I  grow  covetous  of  gathering,  hoping  that  they  will 
help  to  warm  and  cheer  me,  when  I  sit  in  the  chill  shadows 
of  the  evening  of  my  days." 

In  accordance  with  the  views  which  Merton  had  expressed, 
the  deeds  and  bills  were  drawn  and  sanctioned,  while  he  made 
ready  for  departure. 

Most  of  his  friends,  on  hearing  of  his  intention,  congratu 
lated  him  —  thinking  he  would  find  it  an  agreeable  change, 
and  wished  they  could  see  their  own  way  clear.  Some  few, 
however,  who  had  viewed  enough  of  the  world  to  know  the 
value  of  home,  said,  "  That  which  the  traveller  deepest  learns 
is  the  strength  of  ties  long  since  formed." 

After  the  interview  with  Featherstone,  Merton  called  on 

his  sister,  and,  making  her  acquainted  with  his  intention  ot 

visiting  Europe,  asked  her  to  accompany  him,  qualifying  the 

invitation,  however,  by  adding,  "  if  you  will  be  ready  to  leave 

9* 


THE    M  U  S  T  E  E ,    OR 

in  the  course  of  the  week,  as  I  wish  to  depart  at  the  earliest 
moment." 

u  Are  you  really  in  earnest  ?     Have  you  truly  so  decided  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Mary  ;  my  preparations  are  well  nigh  completed." 

"  Well,  I  am  delighted.  With  your  tastes,  and  situated  as 
you  are,  I  could  not  have  so  long  resisted  the  attraction.  Do 
you  really  desire  me  to  go  with  you,  or  is  it  only  a  com 
pliment  ?  " 

"  Can  you  think  that  utter  loneliness  would  be  so  agreeable 
to  me  as  to  make  you  doubt  my  sincerity,  Mary  ?  " 

"  No,  indeed,  Rufus.  And  I  should  like  to  go  with  you, 
as  Europe  has  long  been  to  me  a  fond  expectancy.  Yet  I 
cannot  now ;  that  would  be  to  desert  my  post  in  the  hour  of 
engagement ;  my  daughters  need  my  watchful  care  more  than 
ever.  When  I  get  them  well  settled  in  life  I  shall  feel  my 
self  entitled  to  a  furlough  ;  and  then  I  hope  to  have  it  in  my 
power  to  see  that  society  which  gives  tone  and  fashion  to  the 
world.  But  pray  tell  me  what  sends  you  away  in  such  haste 
that  you  can  wait  for  me  only  one  little  week  ?  " 

This  question  touched  him  so  deeply  that  for  a  moment  he 
was  unable  to  reply ;  but  at  length,  with  constrained  accent, 
he  said,  "  Business  calls  me.  One  of  our  debtors  has  failed. 
The  presence  of  one  of  us  is  required." 

"  I  hope  it  may  prove  a  fortunate  loss ! "  said  she,  with  a 
vivacity  which  sprang  from  a  determination  not  to  notice  his 
depression.  *'  Truly,  I  wish  the  failure  had  occurred  long 
since,  if  it  could  then  have  influenced  you  to  so  desirable  a 
step  as  this.  How  long  do  you  intend  to  be  absent  ?  " 

"  A  year ;  perhaps  more,  if  I  find  any  thing  to  take  my 
attention." 

"  How  can  it  be  otherwise,  among  so  many  attractions  ! 
You  have  cultivated  a  taste  for  the  beautiful,  and  possess  the 
means  to  purchase.  Hence  you  will  not  only  enjoy  the 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  103 

various  charms  of  the  works  which  have  become  famous,  but 
may  search  out  to  hearten  the  struggle  and  foster  the  promise 
of  to-day." 

"Art  is  serene,"  Merton  replied,  "and  invites  only  the 
calm  in  spirit  to  her  contemplation.  The  cares  of  business 
and  the  deep  entanglements  of  life  are  not  the  best  schools  for 
preparation  to  enter  her  presence." 

"  Why  will  you  look  sadly  on  that  in  which  all  the  world 
hope  to  find  exceeding  pleasure,  and  which  many,  when  they 
return,  harp  upon  as  if  it  had  exalted  to  something  almost 
supernatural  ?  It  is  really  sorrowful,  and  will  make  me  anx 
ious  whenever  I  think  of  you.  But  you  have  come  to  tell  me 
what  you  have  done,  or  intend  to  do,  with  that  sad  business  of 
which  we  have  so  many  times  spoken  ?  " 

Merton's  cheek  blanched  and  quivered,  yet  he  said,  "  It  will 
soon  be  over.  That  which  you  desired  has  come,  and  I  am 
alone." 

"  Alone !  Is  that  kind  ?  Yet  I  will  not  reproach  you  when 
you  bring  me  such  good  news.  Is  it  entirely  ended,  so  that  I 
have  nothing  to  fear  ?  "  ^ 

"  I  trust  so.  Desiring  to  veil  it  from  the  public  gaze,  I 
have  made  such  disposition  of  it  as,  for  a  long  time,  will  keep 
it  in  obscurity." 

"  Ah,  that  limit !  I  hope  you  have  not  made  a  will  to  come 
forth,  like  a  ghost  from  a  grave,  and  *  frighten  us  from  our 
propriety ' ! " 

"  Mary,  I  have  listened  to  you  in  this  matter  as  much  as  lay 
in  my  power.  I  wear  that  here  which  prays  you  to  be  tender 
while  we  remain  together,  and  which  ought  to  make  you 
think  kindly  of  me  when  I  am  gone." 

Seeing  that  there  was  no  more  to  be  gained  in  the  direction 
in  which  she  had  so  long  pressed  him,  Mrs.  Steel  immediately 
changed  her  tone,  and  said,  "  Dear  brother,  do  you  imagine 


104  THE    MUSTEE,     OR 

that  I  can  do  otherwise,  when  I  remember  what  you  have 
sacrificed  for  me  and  mine,  and  when  I  can  see  that  it  was 
the  fulness  of  your  heart  which  betrayed  you  ?  O  Rufus  ! 
would  to  God  that  it  was  as  it  might  have  been !  Had  you 
mated  yourself  worthily,  what  sweet  intercourse  we  should 
have  had  in  the  many  years  we  have  been  so  near  each  other ! 
But  that  dreadful  shadow  would  always  enter  along  with  you 
and  make  it  cold.  Yet  I  loved  to  see  you  come,  notwith 
standing,  for  your  noble  nature  made  me  believe  in  a  day  of 
redemption." 

Yielding  to  the  impulse  which  she  had  designed  to  give, 
and  to  which  his  sorrow  was  so  inclined,  tears  filled  his  eyes, 
and  hers  overflowed  at  will,  for  she  had  power  to  restrain  or 
command  them. 

So  softened,  when  they  resumed  conversation,  they  went 
down  to  childhood's  recollections,  to  early  affection,  and  to 
gether,  in  imagination,  visited  the  home  which  ancestral  en 
ergy  had  reared,  and  a  mother's  heart  had  warmed,  to  talk 
there  of  all  the  treasured  past,  the  while  the  sister's  pride  ap 
peared  to  J)e  vanquished,  and  the  brother's  erring  love  to  be 
cast  out,  by  the  presence  of  these  purer  spirits.  So  arises  a 
summer  tempest,  cooling  and  purifying  the  atmosphere  for  a 
time ;  but  the  heart,  like  the  sky,  soon  assumes  its  wonted  as 
pect,  and  to-morrow  will  find  Merton  and  his  sister  much  the 
same  as  yesterday.  She  may,  indeed,  appear,  and  perhaps 
be,  less  sensitive ;  still  it  will  proceed  from  the  fact  that  the 
cause  of  irritation  has  been  removed,  while  he  will  change  his 
place,  but  not  the  current  of  his  affections  ;  therefore  it  is  all 
an  outward  seeming. 

Beyond  mere  business  arrangements  and  an  occasional 
pang,  Merton  kept  his  own  counsel ;  for  Rutledge,  to  whom 
alone  he  could  have  unbosomed  all,  was  away  on  his  northern 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  105 

farm ;  he  had  left  town  some  weeks  before  the  thought  of 
separation  entered  the  mind  of  his  friend. 

On  the  day  of  Merton's  departure  he  clasped  a  chain  of  gold 
—  from  which  was  suspended  a  glittering  diamond  cross,  with 
rubies  to  mark  the  prints  of  the  bloody  nails  —  around  the 
neck  of  Flora,  and  placing  his  hand  on  her  brow,  silently  in 
voked  God  to  bless  her ;  when,  kissing,  they  turned  away  in 
tears. 

So  came  the  hour  for  another  parting,  upon  which  I  do  not 
choose  to  lift  the  curtain.  That  it  was  full  of  sad  and  fearful 
foreboding,  may  well  be  imagined.  If  he  tried  to  soothe 
Madam  with  the  hope  of  soon  returning,  she  feared  it  was  de 
lusive  ;  for  she  knew  that  he  was  stricken,  and  felt  that,  like 
the  wounded  deer,  he  was  turning  aside  to  die. 

Thus  Merton  left  th'e  city  of  his  adoption,  in  which  he  had 
made —  go  the  world  said  —  a  brilliant  fortune.  In  due  time 
he  arrived  in  New  York,  melancholy  in  manner  and  sad  at 
heart  —  so  much  so  that  his  travelling  companions  observed 
in  his  conversation  an  occasional  inconsequence,  or  mental 
misstep,  followed  by  a  wandering  on  a  way  in  which  he  seemed 
lost.  And  although  after  a  little  rest  he  appeared  rational 
again,  as  if  the  aberration  was  but  the  weakness  or  weariness 
of  the  moment,  still  it  gave  sign  that  there  was  some  singular, 
and,  at  times,  overwhelming  pressure  on  his  mind. 


106  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 


CHAPTER   XI. 

0,  seek  not  destined  evils  to  divine, 

Found  out  at  last  too  soon !  cease  here  the  search ; 

I  will  impart  far  better ;  will  impart 

What  makes,  when  Winter  comes,  the  Sun  to  rest 

So  soon  on  Ocean's  bed  his  paler  brow, 

And  Night  to  tarry  so  at  Spring's  return. 

LANDOR. 

THE  house  in  which  the  Vernons  lived  had  once  been  a 
proud  mansion.  Its  broad  foundations  were  laid  when  there 
was  many  a  green  lawn  in  the  quarter  of  the  city  in  which  it 
was  situated,  affording  it  room  to  spread  out  like  a  pasture 
oak,  so  that  it  bore  but  little  resemblance  to  the  crowded  hab 
itations  of  the  present  day,  which  appear,  like  trees  in  a 
forest,  to  be  stretching  up  as  if  to  find  a  purer  air  and  a 
crown  of  sunbeams.  Although  its  youth  had  long  passed,  and 
its  melancholy  days  were  come,  yet  it  still  stoojd  firm,  and  wore 
a  venerable  aspect ;  and  the  wide,  deep  arch  of  the  door-way 
indicated  the  generous  nature  or  the  private  sumptuousness  of 
him  who  reared  the  structure  for  his  abode,  and  bequeathed  it 
to  his  daughter,  an  only  child  and  the  mother  of  Aurelia. 

Seen  at  the  period  of  which  Mrs.  Summers  spoke,  the 
sketch  she  gave  of  the  habitation  did  not  overshade  its  gloom. 
But  at  this  time  it  had  softened  somewhat,  as  one  of  the  upper 
blinds  was  quite  open,  and  even  the  window  upraised,  for  it 
was  a  warm  and  bright  afternoon  in  May.  And  making  it 
brighter  still,  within,  there  appeared  a  lady  seemingly  before 
a  mirror  for  the  purpose  of  imparting  the  final  grace  to  her 
apparel  (by  the  way  in  which  she  turned,  and  touched  fold 
and  ribbon)  ere  she  passed  out  to  give  her  wealth  of  beauty 


LOVEAND     LIBERTY.  107 

to  the  public  eye,  and  diffuse  a  charm  which  makes  the  fre 
quented  promenades  of  a  city  forever  attractive. 

But  while  she  was  adjusting  her  bonnet,  the  door  opened, 
and  Mrs.  Vernon  entered.  Instantly  observing  her  daughter's 
neat,  yet  simple,  toilet,  she  rather  imperiously  inquired,  "  Why 
do  you  not  wear  a  silk  ?  The  people  whom  you  are  intending 
to  visit  make  dress  a  subject  of  thought  and  conversation. 
Why  do  you  persist  in  doing  what  you  know  I  do  not  wish 
you  to  do  ?  " 

"  Do  you  think  that  I  have  no  better  reason  for  my  choice 
than  simply  to  oppose  you,  mother  ?  " 

"  I  am  sure  I  don't  know  what  other  motive  you  can 
have." 

"  I  am  a  creature  of  moods,  mother,  not  mode,  only  in  so 
far  as  it  pleases  me.  Besides,  I  have  a  particular  fancy  for 
this  dress  to-day,  and  thought  I  might  venture  to  indulge  it.*' 

"  I  cannot  approve  of  your  taste,  for,  considering  the  friends 
you  are  to  visit,  it  is  very  unwise.  People  in  our  condition 
should  be  careful,  on  such  occasions,  to  dress  as  richly  as  pos 
sible —  a  muslin  is  too  suggestive  of  our  state.  But  where 
are  your  pearls  ?  " 

"  Since  you  told  me  that  it  could  not  be  long  before  I  should 
be  obliged  to  part  with  the  gems,  for  something  more  neces 
sary,  I  cannot  wear  them.'* 

"That  is  silly,  /should  wear  them  the  oftener.  You  can 
not  hurt  them." 

"  If  you  did  not  desire  their  disuse,  you  should  not  have 
mentioned  the  fact,  for  you  know  that  I  scorn  deception." 

"  How  singular  you  are  !  The  ornaments  are  still  ours,  and 
we  may  never  have-  to  part  with  them  ;  at  least  I  shall  strug 
gle  to  keep  my  father's  wedding  gift." 

Perceiving  that  her  mother  was  about  to  enter  upon  a  sub 
ject  which  she  had  frequently  lectured  upon  of  late,  —  more, 


108  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

she  thought,  than  was  necessary  for  instruction,  —  Aurelia 
chose,  half  playfully,  half  satirically,  to  adhere  to  one  more 
hackneyed,  inasmuch  as  it  was  less  annoying.  Hence  she 
said,  "  Mother,  I  value  the  ornaments  quite  as  highly  as  you  ; 
though  it  be  now  only  for  their  exquisite  settings,  and  the  fan 
cies  that  flit  around  when  I  muse  on  their  antiquity  —  found, 
as  they  were,  with  the  remains  of  the  wearer,  in  the  lava- 
tomb  of  Pompeii." 

This  being  a  favorite  reminiscence  of  Mrs.  Vernon,  as  it 
recalled  the  affluence  in  which  she  was  reared,  she  replied, 
with  an  eager  glance  at  the  jewels,  "  Yes,  your  grandfather 
and  I  were  in  a  newly-excavated  palace  of  that  long-buried 
city,  when  a  soldier  followed  us  apart,  and  timidly  showing 
them,  named  a  price  which  was  quickly  paid.  Time,  indeed, 
had  dimmed  and  corroded  the  gems,  and  they  were  replaced 
with  the  choicest  that  could  be  procured  from  the  orient.  Yet, 
valuable  as  they  are,  my  father  always  prized  their  perfect 
mounting  far  above  the  pearls.  And  when  he  gave  them  to 
me,  he  said,  '  Let  them  pass  down  with  our  blood'  —  and  it 
would  be  one  of  the  sorrows  of  my  life  to  part  with  them," 

"  I  am  pleased  that  my  grandfather  so  regarded  the  jewels. 
I  like  to  trace  to  him  my  passion  for  art ;  and  fancy  it  stronger 
for  the  lineal  current.  But  may  they  not  have  taken  some 
baleful  charm  from  the  skeleton  on  which  they  were  found  ?  " 

"  How  childish !  I  hope  you  will  not  encourage  such 
superstitious  fancies." 

"  Do  not  ships  bring  diseases  from  the  Indies,  mother  ? 
And  when  I  call  to  mind  what  the  Pompeians  were,  may  I 
not  be  shy  of  their  trinkets  ?  Yet  they  are  worthy  of  the 
best  days  of  Grecian  cunning,"  she  continued,  taking  up  the 
ring.  "Observe  the  indentation  of  the  palm,  the  vigorous 
grasp  of  the  veined  and  manly  hand,  so  life-like  in  every  part, 
and  finished  to  a  nail,  as  Horace  said  of  Augustus.  How 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  109 

many  have  had  joy,  in  putting  it  on,  which  did  not  last  1     I 
sometimes  fancy  that  Dido  might  have  worn  it  when  she  stood, 

'  With  a  willow  in  her  hand, 
Upon  the  wild  sea  banks,  and  waved  her  love 
To  come  again  to  Carthage.'  " 

"I  wish  you  could  think  of  something  else  besides  love, 
Aurelia." 

"  Of  what  would  you  prefer  that  I  should  think,  mother  ?  " 

"  Of  that  without  which  it  is  not  respectable,  and  cannot 
subsist,  if  you  will  make  me  explain." 

"  Mother,  I  have  listened  to  this  lesson  many  times  in  def 
erential  silence,  hoping  that,  when  you  saw  it  was  understood, 
you  would  cease.  But,  seeing  no  such  prospect,  I  feel  im 
pelled  to  say,  that  any  further  iteration  will  be  more  likely  to 
make  me  wilful  than  wise." 

"  Indeed,  Miss  Vernon !  But  what  if  I  feel  it  to  be  my 
duty  to  teach  until  I  see  that  you  heed  my  teaching  ?  " 

"  Do  you  believe  it  right,  mother,  to  be  continually  direct 
ing  my  attention  to  the  mere  money  prizes  in  this  lottery, 
when  you  know  how  much  the  whole  current  of  glittering  life 
inclines  us  to  overvalue  them  ?  " 

"  Are  you  expecting  to  meet  Mr.  Park  at  Mrs.  Fardel's  this 
evening  ?  " 

"  I  have  no  reason  for  such  expectation ;  yet,  to  be  frank 
with  you,  —  believing  you  to  be  my  friend,  mother,  —  I  cer 
tainly  hope  to  meet  him  there." 

"  Do  you  think  it  dutiful,  or  becoming,  to  disregard  my  most 
serious  admonitions,  and  seek  the  society  of  a  person,  who, 
although  he  may  be  every  thing  which  you  fancy  him,  has  not 
the  means  to  make  you  comfortable  in  a  respectable  boarding 
house  even  ?  " 

"  Well,  mother,  he  has  not  invited  me  to  that  kind  of  enter- 
10 


110  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

tainment ;  and,  if  he  do,  I  pledge  myself  to  consult  you  before 
I  accept  the  offer." 

"  My  child,  you  may  some  time  learn  that  this  is  not  a  light 
matter,  or  an  ignoble  aim,  to  which  I  point,  although  it  pleases 
you  to  treat  it  so  now ;  yet  if  you  live  out  half  your  days  you 
will  come  to  think  as  much  of  wealth  and  respectability  as  she 
whose  advice  —  given  solely  for  your  good  —  you  so  strangely 
disregard." 

"  I  fear  it,  mother  —  from  my  soul  I  do  ;  for  I  frequently 
find  myself  wishing  that  Mr.  Park  could  add  wealth  to  his 
gifts  and  accomplishments ;  and  I  sometimes  weigh  them 
even ;  yes,  put  gold  over  against  a  glorious  nature,  coolly 
trying  to  estimate  the  joys  of  each !  and  there  are  moments 
when  I  incline  to  the  gilded  side.  Is  it  not  a  sad  con 
fession  ?  " 

"  I  hope  it  may  be  a  true  one.  If  you  do  not  wish  to  con 
tinue  to  descend  the  dark  way  in  which  we  are  now  walking, 
you  must  beware  how  you  get  your  heart  entangled  with  any 
thing  that  may  prevent  you  from  leaving  it ;  and  remember, 
that  it  is  as  clear  as  noonday  that  your  fortune  is  in  your  own 
hands,"  (this  was  an  allusion  to  a  middle-aged  gentleman,  of 
large  estate,  who  evidently  desired  to  purchase  her,)  "  and  if 
you  do  not  take  advantage  of  it  you  will  certainly  come  to 
repentance.  In  this  I  give  you  the  lesson  of  experience  as 
well  as  of  observation  ;  for  I  have  seen  youth,  and  known 
love,  and  feel  the  shadow,  and  have  felt  the  sun,  which  you 
have  not ;  yet  you  have  it  in  your  power  to  make  it  shine 
once  more  on  our  house,  if  you  but  resolve  on  it." 

"  Mother,  I  have  said  that  there  are  times  when  I  am  prone 
to  put  my  trust  in  riches  ;  and  I  have  a  taste  for  luxury  in  its 
most  voluptuous  forms  ;  for  the  taint  is  in  our  blood  —  and  do 
you  think  that  it  requires  precept  on  precept  to  develop  it  ?  " 

"  Do  you  mean  to  reproach  your  parents  ?     What  an  un- 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  Ill 

grateful  child  you  are  for  all  our  sacrifices  that  you  might 
learn  wisdom  and  secure  your  happiness  in  life ! " 

On  this,  Aurelia,  turning  towards  the  door,  said,  "  I  think 
that  it  is  quite  time  for  me  to  go ;  and  on  the  way  I  will  try 
to  meditate  on  the  happiness  which  you  desire  for  me." 

As  the  door  closed  Mrs.  Vernon  said,  "  How  few  children 
prove  blessings  to  their  parents,  or  will  be  guided  by  their 
counsels ! " 

If  Aurelia,  in  talking  with  her  mother,  had  exaggerated, 
she  had  truly  disclosed,  her  inclinations,  and  foreshadowed 
the  future.  She  was  essentially  the  child  of  her  parents.  Of 
the  ruling  trait  of  her  mother's  mind  she  had  deeply  partaken, 
though  veiled  and  graced  by  an  amenity  of  manner  that  came 
from  the  paternal  line,  as  well  as  her  more  ardent  and  impas 
sioned  temperament.  In  her  tastes  she  vibrated  to  extremes  ; 
now  musing  of  the  simple  and  secluded  life  of  the  heart,  and 
now  dreaming  of  the  gorgeousness  of  a  queen,  and  the  sceptre 
of  dominion, 

Had  she  fallen  on  a  time  when  some  Pericles  swayed  peo 
ple  and  state  by  the  authentic  supremacy  of  genius,  she  would 
have  been  drawn  to  him  as  was  the  gifted  Aspasia ;  and,  like 
her,  cared  little  for  the  mere  "  forms  and  ceremonies  "  where 
there  was  no  fear  of  an  imperfect  union.  So  impressible  was 
shevthat,  in  the  midst  of  the  art  and  society  which  such  mas 
ters  gather  or  create,  she  would  have  studied  simplicity,  and 
kept  their  elevation  ;  and,  for  the  same  reason,  should  circum 
stances  lead  her  to  a  barbarian  court,  she  would  be  likely  to 
sink  to  their  tone,  and  become  ambitious  of  their  gauds  and 
gold. 

Aurelia  met  three  or  four  other  persons  of  her  acquaintance 
to  take  tea ;  soon  after  which  they  sat  down  to  a  lively  game 
of  whist ;  for  it  was  full  of  conversation,  or  question  and  ex 
clamation,  such  as  —  "What  is  the  trump?"  "Whose  lead  is 


112  THE    MUSTEE,   OR 

it  ?  "  "  Let  me  look  at  the  last  trick."  "  I'm  sure  I've  for 
gotten  what  suits  are  out  —  wasn't  that  your  lead  ?  "  "  There, 
you've  trumped  the  best  card ! "  "  That's  a  thirteener ! "  "  Hon 
ors  are  easy."  .  "  Excuse  me,  but  I  played  three "  —  all  of 
which  was  mingled  with  considerable  by-play  and  consequent 
merriment ;  so  that  a  game  of  skill  —  and  one  of  the  most 
intricate  in  its  highest  combinations,  and  requiring  the  best 
diplomacy,  also,  as  every  glance  or  motion  of  your  opponents 
may  be  weighed  —  in  their  hands  sank  nearly  down  to  the 
blind  chance  of  the  die.  Evidently  whist  was  the  nominal, 
not  the  real  object  for  which  they  had  gathered  around  the 
table.  Late  in  the  evening  Park  came  in,  and,  of  course,  was 
chided  by  his  cousin  for  delay.  The  other  persons  expressed 
their  pleasure  at  meeting,  with  the  exception  of  Aurelia,  who 
was  nearly  silent,  — 

"  But  when  in  turn  she  gave  her  hand,  I  ween 
Their  tender  glances  met  and  kissed  between." 

Park  did  not  fail  to  notice  her  simple  attire ;  and,  with  his 
view  of  life  it  was  a  source  of  pure  enjoyment,  for  it  seemed 
to  him  a  good  omen.  So  he  thought,  "  Our  tastes  are  alike  in 
this,  also  ;  or  she  has  adopted  it  to  please  me ! "  which,  for 
the  moment,  was  the  sweeter  hope. 

Under  such  influence,  he  entered  with  spirit  into  their  con 
versation,  and  heightened  it  with  wit,  and  point,  and  piquancy, 
until  it  moved  on  a  higher  plane,  to  which  the  company  were 
borne  so  easily  that  they  were  not  aware  of  the  change  before 
it  began  to  subside  after  he  had  gone. 

As  Park  and  Aurelia  walked  down  the  street  together,  he 
said,  "  It  has  given  me  pleasure  to  meet  you  at  my  cousin's, 
and,  although  she  is  somewhat  frivolous,  I  am  grateful  for  her 
kindness,  as  I  just  told  her." 

"  She  may  be  rather  busy  with  trifles,  yet  she  has  ready 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  113 

sympathy  on  all  occasions,  and  is  very  friendly  to  me.  But 
what  a  funny  little  thing  her  husband  is !  He  seems  to  be 
her  spaniel ;  and  I  fancy  that  she  keeps  a  ball,  and  trains  him 
to  '  fetch '  when  they  are  alone.  For  he  appears  to  be  forever 
on  the  watch,  and  wags  round  as  though  he  were  anxious  for 
you  to  drop  something,  so  that  the  play  might  begin  ;  and  I 
have  indulged  him  in  a  handkerchief  and  a  glove  two  or  three 
times,  to  his  great  satisfaction  and  my  amusement.  Is  it  not 
singular  that  she  should  have  married  such  a  person  ?  " 

"  It  does  not  much  surprise  me,  \yhen  I  consider  how  often 
the  mistake  is  made  by  those  who  have  but  little  discernment, 
or  who  close  their  eyes  to  consequences  ;  and  my  cousin  must 
fall  into  one  or  the  other  of  those  classes.  Yet  she  had  a 
face  which  pleased  me  in  my  boyish  days ;  for  she  had  aspi 
rations,  but  they  have  long  since  gone.  Still  I  have  no  doubt 
she  had  a  hope,  or  rather  a  hallucination,  that  marriage  with 
this  man  would  foster  her  ideal ;  as  it  would  bring  books,  and 
pictures,  and  leisure  ;  yet,  instead  of  fulfilling,  it  has  dissipated 
the  dream." 

"  I  should  think  it  quite  equal  to  that,"  said  Aurelia  ;  "  in 
deed,  a  desert  with  the  Memnon,  musical  only  to  the  morning, 
or  even  the  dull  Sphinx,  would  yield  more  desirable  sus 
tenance  and  companionship." 

"  Yes,  the  wigwam  of  some  Osceola,  it  seems  to  me,  would 
be  a  stronger  temptation  !  For  truly,  a  simple  life  is  the  most 
cheerful ;  and  to  have  but  few  wants  is  wisdom.  Pictures  are 
but  poor  and  imperfect  copies  of  that  nature  which  lies  open 
to  every  seeing  eye ;  and  books,  even,  are  but  reflections  of 
our  own  spirits,  more  or  less  dwarfed,  deformed,  or  exaggerated 
by  the  reflectors  ;  while  men  are  great  and  original  in  pro 
portion  as  they  explore  the  depths  without  these  aids.  And 
that  leisure,  also,  which  we  so  desire,  soon  becomes  a  dreary 
10* 


114  THE     M  U  8  T  E  E  ,     OR 

vacuity  to  those  whose  minds  are  not  the  royal  instruments  on 
which  some  Muse  lays  her  inspiring  hand." 

"  I  know  that  use  rarely  follows  possession  ;  yet  the  world 
is  striving  for  these  goods,  or  something  less  worthy  ;  and  'I 
confess  that  they  have  charms  for  me,  thinking  they  help  to 
unfold  and  sustain." 

"  It  is  true  that  such  is  our  hope  and  expectation  ;  yet  they 
will  be  found  to  have  little  value,  save  as  means  to  an  end. 
I  see  adequate  life  only  where  there  is  an  aim  which  imparts 
something  of  nobility  to  the  countenance.  Tried  by  this  test, 
how  many  of  the  proud  would  be  brought  low,  how  many  of 
the  humble  exalted ! " 

"  On  so  rugged  a  march,  would  you  shun  the  things  that 
grace  existence,  even  to  the  passing  by  society  and  friend 
ship?" 

"  I  would  give  but  little  time  and  less  thought  to  one,  but  to 
the  other  my  heart  runs  as  the  rivers  to  the  sea.  An  equal 
friend  is  the  true  mirror  ;  and  he  who  finds  the  treasure  has 
reached  the  height  of  fortune,  has  gained  the  one  human 
solace,  has  entered  the  one  earthly  haven.  When  the  great, 
like  Greville,  find  it,  all  their  after  seeking  is  only  for  offer 
ings  worthy  to  be  laid  on  its  shrine ;  and  he  ceased  not  at 
death,  even,  but  made  his  own  epitaph  in  the  praise,  and 
sweet  with  the  name,  of  Sidney." 

They  had  reached  the  end  of  their  walk,  and  were  pausing 
on  the  steps  of  the  house,  when  Park  finished  the  last  sen 
tence  ;  to  which  Aurelia  made  no  audible  reply,  yet  he  felt 
that  she  deeply  sympathized  and  approved. 

So  they  parted,  as  they  had  done  on  similar  occasions ;  for 
Park  declined  invitations  to  enter,  except  when  calling  for  that 
purpose. 

As  her  form  grew  dim  in  the  shadow  and  then  vanished, 
while  the  door  closed,  Park  turned  away  on  his  homeward 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  115 

walk,  and  mused  of  love,  and  beauty,  and  high-mated  souls  ; 
and  said,  in  his  secret  spirit,  "  She  is  a  perfect  creature,  in 
mind  as  in  mould !  Ah,  had  I  the  fortune  and  the  power,  now, 
which  in  five  years  I  will  wring  from  the  world's  reluctant 
heart,  I  would  lay  them  at  her  feet,  and  make  her  relations 
proud  of  the  alliance.  But  as  it  is,  what  would  my  offering 
seem,  other  than  a  supplication  ?  Therefore  I  must  strive  to 
lay  these  sweet  sad  visions,  and  learn  to  labor  and  to  wait." 


116  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 


CHAPTER    XII. 

What  is  the  worst  of  woes  that  wait  on  age  ? 
What  stamps  the  wrinkle  deeper  on  the  brow  ? 
To  view  each  loved  one  blotted  from  life's  page, 
And  be  alone  on  earth,  as  I  am  now. 
Before  the  Chastener  humbly  let  me  bow, 
O'er  hearts  divided  and  o'er  hopes  destroyed. 

BYRON. 

WHEN  Merton  had  embarked  for  England,  his  near  rela 
tives  felt  relieved  ;  yet,  fearing  the  future,  they  inquired  how 
they  might  honorably  prolong  his  absence.  Having  this 
chiefly  in  view,  —  as  a  new  administration  had  just  succeeded 
to  the  places  of  power  and  favor  with  which  he  sympathized, 
—  his  friends  applied  to  the  president  to  appoint  him  consul 
of  that  city  whither  business  of  a  more  private  nature  was 
directing  his  steps.  For  this  important  purpose  they  appeared 
with  such  names  and  such  weight  of  political  reasons,  that  he 
bore  off  the  prize  from  the  contending  host ;  so  that,  when, 
after  a  leisurely  journey,  he  arrived  at  his  place  of  destination, 
he  found  a  stately  packet  awaiting  him,  closed  with  the  broad 
seal  of  his  country. 

Reflecting  upon  this  honor,  which  he  supposed  came  unsolicit 
ed,  he  indulged  a  hope  that  the  chief  magistrate  was  not  yet 
wholly  subject  to  the  multitude  of  office-seekers  who  beset  the 
steps  and  besiege  the  abode  of  a  newly-inaugurated  president. 

Having  examined  and  deeply  pondered  the  important  mat 
ter,  he  was,  on  the  whole,  pleased  with  the  appointment ;  for , 
he  saw  that  it  might  afford  some  little  occupation,  and  lead 
persons  to  call  on  him  whose  information  might  be  acceptable, 
if  their  society  was  not  such  as  he  would  have  thought  desira- 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  117 

ble  at  home.  Indeed,  when  we  are  far  from  home,  one  whom 
we  knew  only  by  sight,  and  passed  with  indifference  in  those 
accustomed  walks,  comes  to  us  clothed  with  deep  and  strange 
fascination. 

If  Merton  suspected,  from  the  appearance  of  the  port,  that 
the  emoluments  of  his  office  would  not  be  large,  it  was  some 
satisfaction  to  know  that  they  would  come  in  the  form  of  fees ; 
therefore  he  should  receive  for  the  actual  labor  just  what  the 
great  statesmen  of  his  country  had  estimated  it  to  be  worth. 
And,  on  the  whole,  he  felt  proud  of  the  freedom  of  the  gov 
ernment,  when  he  realized  how  completely  they  had  left  him 
at  liberty  to  entertain  all  those  "fellow-citizens"  who  might 
call  upon  him,  without  any  mercenary  taint  on  the  motive  ; 
for  the  love  of  giving  was  deep  in  his  heart — so  deep,  that  he 
received  some  satisfaction  in  administering  from  his  own 
treasury  to  those  national  wants  which  lie  beyond  the  ken  of 
the  eagle. 

There,  like  a  valiant  man,  as  he  was,  he  held  the  post  for 
more  than  three  long  years,  against  all  comers.  Yet,  in  that 
time,  it  had  grown  to  be  exceedingly  irksome  ;  for  his  spirits 
had  died  out,  and  his  flesh  had  wasted  away,  making  him  to 
appear  as  though  some  invisible  and  sleepless  foe  had  laid 
siege  to  the  man,  and,  while  sapping  and  mining  all  the  towers 
of  his  strength,  was  slowly  consuming  him  with  famine.  The 
malady  of  his  mind  also,  was  becoming  more  and  more  ob 
servable,  so  that,  at  length,  he  yielded ;  but  not  until  there 
came  over  him  the  conviction  that  it  was  too  late. 

The  resignation  of  his  office,  however,  gave  but  little  relief ; 
and,  feeling  that  his  life  was  drawing  to  a  close,  he  journeyed 
slowly  from  place  to  place,  —  finding  still  some  strength  for  that, 
as  perpetual  change  had  come  to  be  his  most  soothing  potion. 

Moving  on,  he  passed  the  beautiful  and  ever-varying  land 
scape  with  a  listless  eye,  though  he  would  rouse  up  and  take 


118  THE     M  U  S  T  E  E  ,     OR 

notice  when  he  caught  a  glimpse  of  some  bright  arm  of  the 
Mediterranean.  Yet  human  happiness  pleased  him  more,  so 
that  he  could  not  pass,  but  would  order  a  rest,  when,  as  the 
sun  declined,  he  saw  the  healthy  and  gleeful  rustics  dancing 
in  the  shade.  At  such  times,  the  children  venturing  near,  the 
vetturino  would  take  some  of  the  fair  and  bright,  and  place 
them  in  the  carriage,  that  Merton  might  kiss  and  send  them 
away  pleased  with  many  a  coin  —  to  wonder,  perhaps  for  some 
years,  why  he  prized  their  lips  so  highly ;  but  if  they  are  liv 
ing  now,  it  is  no  longer  a  mystery ;  and  it  may  be  that  this 
very  hour  they  would  give  those,  and  more,  for  some  young 
peasant's  smile. 

So,  at  length,  he  reached  Naples  in  the  most  delightful  sea 
son  for  that  gay  city.  Taking  lodgings  in  one  of  the  frequented 
and  picturesque  parts  of  the  town,  he  said  no  more  about  de 
parting,  but  from  a  pleasant  balcony,  day  after  day,  he  watched 
the  passing  crowd,  "  in  pleasing  colors  dight,"  and  seemed  to 
have  become  as  a  little  child.  His  landlord  thought  him  ec 
centric,  and  seeing  that  he  was  so  weak  as  to  need  more  than 
a  servant's  care  and  attention,  he  made  inquiry  into  his  con 
dition  ;  and  finding  his  letters  of  credit  ample,  he  gave  him 
into  the  especial  charge  of  his  daughter,  a  graceful  brunette  of 
twenty  years.  He  thought  her  particularly  qualified  for 
the  office,  as  she  had  made  quite  an  acquaintance  with 
the  English  tongue,  in  her  intercourse  with  the  many  visitors 
to  his  house  from  the  nations  to  whom  that  language  is  native. 
Perhaps  he  had  other  reasons,  which  are  apt  to  give  alacrity 
to  motion  and  assiduity  to  service. 

When  she  first  entered  his  apartment  —  for  he  had  then 
been  there  some  days  —  he  was  gazing,  not  only  intently,  but 
anxiously,  into  the  passing  crowd.  On  hearing  her  light  step 
near  him  he  looked  up,  and,  seeing  the  maiden,  slowly  extended 
his  thin,  worn  hand,  and  said,  "  I  have  grown  weary  in  watching 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  119 

for  you ;  I  feared  that  I  had  been  forgotten.  But  you  did  not 
come  alone ;  where  is  Madam  ?  " 

"  The  mother  you  speak,  say  ?  "  jumbled  the  girl,  though  in 
a  tender  tone. 

"  Yes,  I  wish  her  to  come  to  me  now,  for  I  have  waited  very 
long,  and  I  must  go  soon.  There,  it  grows  dark  !  I  dare  not 
wait  longer,  if  they  do  whisper  that  I  promised.  I  cannot 
mind  it  more  ;  no,  never  again,  never  !  " 

On  this  the  maiden  went  out,  and,  finding  her  mother,  re 
lated  something  of  the  sick  gentleman's  conversation  and  his 
request.  Soon  after  she  entered  the  chamber,  with  the  .daugh 
ter,  where  he  still  sat  by  the  window,  leaning  earnestly  forth 
as  if  to  see  if  any  one  entered  the  house.  But,  on  hearing 
their  approach,  he  turned  his  face  slowly  towards  them,  and, 
looking  on  one  and  on  the  other  with  a  glance  which  came 
nearly  to  the  point  of  sanity,  though  the  rays  soon  diverged 
again,  inquired,  "  Do  you  wish  to  shun  me,  while  I  am  trying 
so  hard  to  get  to  you  ?  Did  you  fear  that  I  had  changed,  that 
I  had  no  desire  to  see  you  more  ?  If  any  one  has  told  you 
so  he  is  my  enemy ;  and  if  I  said  it  I  was  false !  O,  more 
than  in  all  beside.  Look  at  these  poor  hands,  and  see  how 
they  have  pined  for  yours  ;  and  feel  how  wasted  I  am  because 
I  could  think  only  of  you,  yet  you  came  not.  Did  they  say 
that  it  would  hurt  your  good  name  ?  but  I  will  not  ask  the 
reason  of  your  long  delay,  now  that  you  have  so  kindly  come. 
Let  us  eat ;  bring  meat,  bring  wine,  for  now  I  can  grow  strong 
again,  hoping  to  be  happy  if  divided  no  more."  Understand 
ing  something  of  what  he  desired,  the  daughter,  procuring  it, 
drew  up  a  small  table,,  and  placed  it  before  him.  But  he 
looked  on  the  food  listlessly,  and  at  length  put  it  away,  saying, 
"  I  must  have  dined  before  you  came,  and  you  need  not  wait, 
for  you  have  travelled  far ;  and  I  will  rest  a  while."  Turn 
ing  away,  he  closed  his  eyes  a  few  moments,  and  leaned  as  if 


120  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

sleeping ;  yet  soon  aroused,  and,  with  a  faint  smile,  said,  "  I 
was  glad  to  see  that  you  enjoyed  your  dinner,"  although  they 
had  not  tasted.  And,  continuing,  he  said,  "  Ring,  and  have 
what  remains  taken  out.  How  cold  it  is  !  let  Pomp  make  a 
fire,  for  Rutledge,  and  S ,  and  P will  call  in  this  even 
ing,  and  we  shall  want  our  punch  warm.  I  had  begun  to 
think  that  they  would  never  come  again  ;  no,  never ! "  • 

So  pausing,  he  appeared  to  fall  asleep ;  when  they  glided 
softly  away,  leaving  him  alone.  But,  soon  after  they  had 
gone,  he  roused  up  and  fell  to  examining  the  passing  people 
with  the  same  careful  scrutiny,  though  apparently  more  feeble 
than  before  ;  and  the  tears  trickled  over  his  worn  cheeks  as 
he  said,  "  Ah,  it  was  only  a  dream  !  yet  dearer  than  all  wak 
ing  and  waiting  years  ;  for  I  dreamed  that  I  had  found  them, 
and  that  they  still  loved  and  believed  in  me ;  but  it  is  all  dark, 
cold,  cold ;  they  will  come  to  me  no  more,  never  again ;  O, 
never ! " 

The  landlord  learned,  through  his  wife,  that  the  sick  guest 
was  growing  more  unwell  and  weak,  and  put  away  nourish 
ment  as  though  he  had  forgotten  its  use,  or  had  lost  all  incli 
nation  to  taste  it.  Indeed,  Merton  was  fading  away ;  wan 
dering  down  toward  the  silent  realm,  the  seeming  rest,  the 
ever-agitating  mystery,  where  belief  shrinks  and  faith  trembles ; 
yet  hope,  the  eye  of  the  soul,  looks  beyond  and  sees  a  guid 
ing  star. 

On  hearing  how  Mr.  Mert^n  appeared,  the  host  was  re 
minded  of  the  priest,  and  kindly  sent  for  him. 

Yearning  for  peace,  and  seeing  the  serene  repose  of  a  united 
church,  Merton  had,  a  few  months  before,  entered  its  fold 
under  the  guidance  of  one  of  those  gentle  shepherds,  who,  in 
seeking  to  assuage  sorrow,  still  follow  the  Master's  divinest 
steps. 

The  father  whom  the  landlord  summoned  was  of  a  different 


LOVE     AND    LIBERTY.  121 

stamp.  Yet  he  quickly  came  with  the  implements  of  his  pro 
fession  ;  and  —  after  a  short  interview  with  the  publican  — 
entering  into  the  presence  of  the  dying  man,  he  found  him  still 
sitting  in  the  bay  of  the  window,  where,  although  the  evening 
was  somewhat  advanced  and  the  street  nearly  deserted,  he 
continued  to  gaze  into  the  darkness  with  the  same  touching 
anxiety.  But  being  aroused  by  the  confident  approach  of  the 
burly  priest,  Merton  looked  up,  and  seeing  his  sharp  eyes  and 
rosy  face,  —  for  his  stop  below  was  to  congratulate  the  land 
lord  in  a  bottle  of  his  best,  which  became  an  item  in  his 
(meaning  the  landlord's)  final  account,  before  he  ascended  to 
shrive  the  dying,  —  a  bewildered  and  painful  expression  flowed 
out  faintly  over  his  wan  features  while  he  said,  "  I  thought 
that  I  had  resigned  ;  I  intended  to.  Yet,  if  I  am  still  consul, 
dinner  will  be  served  soon,  and  I  am  glad  to  see  some  one 
who  looks  as  though  he  might  enjoy  it.  Do  you  prefer  craw 
fish  soup  ?  I  see  your  face  is  the  color  of  their  shells."  A 
faint  smile  touched  his  features,  but,  in  a  moment,  tears  oblit 
erated  it,  and  he  continued,  "  I  thought  I  was  going  home,  and 
should  soon  see  Madam  and  Flora.  Will  they  prevent  me  ? 
has  my  kind  sister  persuaded  the  president  not  to  allow  me  to 
resign  ?  " 

The  priest,  who  spoke  the  English  tongue,  —  in  truth  he 
was  born  in  Ireland,  —  replied,  "  It  is  my  holy  office  to  teach 
you  to  be  resigned  to  the  will  of  Heaven ;  and,  leading  you 
from  the  vanities  of  this  life,  lay  open  to  your  soul  the  pros 
pect  and  the  assurance  of  paradise." 

Merton  heeded  not  his  words ;  yet,  seeing  the  signs  of  his 
calling  lying  on  the  stand  beside  him,  he  reached  out  for  the 
rosary,  and,  fumbling  over  it  long  as  with  a  babe's  untutored 
hand,  at  length  he  grasped  it ;  though  not  to  "  patter  prayer," 
but  to  shake  the  beads  gleefully,  as  with  an  infant's  compre 
hension.  Then,  fixing  his  gaze  on  the  ivory  crucifix  a  mo 
ll 


122  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

ment,  he  let  the  rosary  fall,  and  clutched  at  the  cross  in  the 
same  painful  manner.  When,  after  much  effort,  he  had  got 
possession  of  it,  he  turned  it  over  and  around ;  and,  having 
viewed  it  on  all  sides,  he  shook  it  with  seeming  dissatisfaction, 
and  putting  it  away  would  not  notice  it  more,  but  closed  his 
eyes  and  leaned  his  head  against  the  pillows,  as  though  he  was 
very  weary  and  would  fain  rest. 

Thus  he  remained  while  the  high  appointed  official  of  Holy 
Mother  Church  went  through  the  saving  ceremony  for  the 
dying,  in  the  faith  that  he  was  opening  the  gates  of  eternal 
bliss  to  this  departing  spirit!  Having  finished  the  mystic 
rites,  he  gathered  up  his  emblems,  and  went  down  to 
deepen  the  purple  of  his  cheek,  and  kindly  help  the  host  to 
a  little  more  profit,  ere  the  account  of  the  dying  guest  was 
closed. 

Yet  when  morning  came,  and  the  tide  of  life  once  more 
flowed  in  full  and  flashing  current  beneath  and  around,  Mer- 
ton  looked  out  upon  it  with  something  like  hope  resting  on  his 
features  ;  as  if  he  thought  that  where  so  many  were  coming, 
those  he  so  loved  would  surely  come  also.  So,  through  some 
days,  he  continued ;  for 

"  The  hull  drives  on  thoxigh  mast  and  sails  are  gone ; 
And  thus  the  heart  will  break,  yet  brokenly  live  on." 

The  leeches  —  priest  and  doctor  —  came  frequently  to  look 
upon  the  case  ;  it  was  nothing  but  a  case,  for  the  generous 
soul  of  Merton  was  already  inurned  and  awaiting  the  touch  of 
Him  who  is  the  resurrection  and  the  life — came  rather  for 
their  profit  than  his,  as  they  imbibed  more  than  they  imparted. 
If,  while  they  were  present,  he  uttered  the  names  Madam  and 
Flora  —  which  seemed  to  be  all  that  he  now  remembered  — 
they  would  inquire,  "  Madam  who  ?  what  madam  do  you  de 
sire  to  see  ? "  Yet  they  were  never  the  wiser ;  for  these 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  123 

learned  men  did  not  call  to  mind  that  slaves  and  kings  are 
known  only  by  their  Christian  names. 

But  this  could  not  last ;  and  so,  at  length,  as  a  tender  child 
puts  its  little  arm  over  the  mother's  neck  when  it  has  drunk 
its  fill  and  desires  to  sleep,  he  turned  away  from  the  crowd, 
and  drew  his  arm  around  the  pillow  which  supported  him,  and 
nestling  his  cheek  into  its  yielding  substance,  as  though  it  were 
a  fond,  protecting  bosom,  breathed  out  his  life  and  his  love 
together. 

When  the  "  maimed  rites  "  of  the  funeral  were  concluded, 
the  body  consigned  to  its  resting  place,  and  the  bills  swollen 
to  their  utmost  limit,  the  kind  and  attentive  disciple  of  the 
apostolic  church  wrote  the  following  epistle  to  Featherstone : — 

"  CITY  OF  NAPLES, 

"  Dear  Sir :  The  painful  duty  has  devolved  on  me  of  com 
municating  to  you  —  as  I  learn  from  your  consul  at  this  capital 
that  you  are  the  person  whom  he  desired  might  be  informed 
if  any  thing  important  should  happen  to  him  —  the  decease  of 
your  relative,  Rufus  Merton.  I  hope  it  will  be  some  consola 
tion  in  the  midst  of  your  distress  to  hear  that  he  died  without 
pain,  and  in  the  full  communion  of  our  Holy  Church.  He 
took  the  sacred  symbols  with  child-like  trust,  yet,  being  very 
weak,  we  could  not  have  that  assurance  of  his  immediate  ac 
ceptance  by  St.  Peter,  the  blessed,  in  whose  hand  are  the  keys 
eternally,  which  we  most  devoutly  desire.  Therefore  we  be 
seech  you,  for  his  sake,  that  means  be  supplied  to  say  masses, 
so  he  may  have  that  intercession  which  can  appease  and  ele 
vate  to  peace  and  bliss  forevermore. 

"  Learning  that  he  was  a  man  highly  honored,  he  having 
been  clothed  with  office  and  intrusted  with  a  portion  of  the 
power  of  your  great  republic,  we  did  not  bear  his  body  to  one 
of  the  city  pits,  but  purchased  a  place  for  his  burial,  so  that  his 


124  THE    M US TEE,    OR 

weeping  country  may  gather  his  ashes  when  they  build  his 
monument. 

"  If  you  should  have  any  directions  to  give,  or  desire  any 
further  information,  please  address  the  writer,  and  your  request 
shall  command  me. 

"  Yours,  with  the  salutations  of  Holy  Church, 

"  FATHER  BONIFACE. 
"  Anthony  Featherstone,  Esq., 

"  City  of  New  Orleans,  U.  S.  A." 

Thus  did  the  living  seek  to  take  profit  from  the  dying !  So 
passed  the  sorrow  and  penance  of  Merton's  spirit ;  so  found 
he  his  rest. 

If,  on  some  future  memorial  stone,  his  country  chisel  his 
epitaph,  it  may  well  read,  "  Faithful  and  devoted."  If  it  be 
done  by  blood  connections,  it  must  be,  "  Generous  and  self- 
sacrificing."  If  Love  be  permitted  to  engrave  the  letters,  it 
will  appear,  "  Tender  and  true."  But  if  some  correct  and 
spotless  nature  should  stoop  to  write  a  word  of  warning,  hu 
manity  could  not  heed  it,  and  our  kind  mother  Earth  would 
lead  her  gentle  seasons  there,  to  weave  over  it  a  veil  of  per 
ennial  mosses. 


LOVE     AND    LIBERTY.  125 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

If  trouble  come,  0,  lie  not  down  in  tears ; 
Be  like  the  mountain  pine,  whose  soaring  spears 
Ne'er  vanquished  were  by  Winter's  icy  arms, 
But  fill  the  tempest  with  Eolian  charms. 
ANON. 

DURING  the  four  years  that  had  passed  since  Rufus  Merton 
went  forth  a  sorrowing  yet  uncomplaining  exile,  but  little 
change  was  apparent  in  those  in  whom  he  was  chiefly  inter 
ested,  except  what  might  happen  in  many  families  without 
particular  comment,  even  from  those  who  take  most  careful 
notice  of  the  lives  of  their  neighbors.  If  Featherstone  no 
longer  dined  at  the  house,  as  formerly,  he  could  plead  that, 
Merton  having  withdrawn  from  the  partnership,  the  larger 
amount  of.  business  which  necessarily  devolved  on  him  made 
so  long  a  walk  impracticable  at  such  an  hour. 

If  he  came  in  late  at  night,  as  he  frequently  did,  he  at  first 
excused  himself  by  explaining  the  custom  of  entertaining  busi 
ness  friends  who  visit  the  city  —  a  custom  which  had  come  to 
be  considered  important  to  success  in  trade ;  and,  no  doubt,  the 
manoeuvre  overpays  the  outlay. 

On  such  occasions  —  and  they  were  frequent  —  he  always 
found  Flora  watching,  with  a  book  for  her  amusement  or  her 
excuse,  which  she  laid  down  in  the  earlier  days  when  she 
heard  his  step,  and  rose  up  with  a  trembling  heart  and  a  tear 
ful  smile  to  meet  him. 

If  he  remonstrated,  as  he  often  did,  against  this  course,  she 
replied  fondly  or  evasively,  according  to  the  mood  of  her  ques 
tioner.  Coming  in  later  than  usual,  yet  feeling  something  of 
11* 


126  THE     MUSTEE,    OK 

his  early  kindness,  which,  being  a  fever  of  the  blood,  had  be 
gun  to  intermit,  he  said,  "  I  wish  that  I  knew  how  to  cure  you 
of  waiting  and  watching  for  me." 

"  If  I  desire  to  see  you  as  soon  as  you  come,  you  will  not 
say  that  you  do  not  approve  of  it,  for  you  know  that  I  am 
fond  of  reading ;  and  works  of  imagination,  which  you  some 
times  chide  me  for  liking  so  well,  are  only  felt  in  their  fulness 
in  night's  brooding  hours." 

"  It  sounds  very  well,  my  dear  ;  but  I  am  thinking  the  book 
does  not  get  your  entire  attention,  for  you  wear  an  anxious 
face,  which  I  do  not  wish  to  see ;  it  will  spoil  your  beauty 
some  time." 

"  May  I  not  think  of  you  when  I  -hear  footsteps,  and  pause 
and  listen  even  to  learn  if  they  be  yours  ?  " 

"  Can  you  distinguish  my  step  from  another's  on  the  street, 
or  must  it  touch  the  doorstone  first  ?  " 

"  I  think  I  know  its  measure  ;  for  I  am  not  often  deceived, 
unless  I  have  been  hoping  long." 

"  I  doubt  whether  there  is  any  thing  more  than  the  gradual 
abating  of  the  gait,  as  I  draw  near  the  end  of  the  walk,  to 
guide  you  ;  if  so,  how  do  my  steps  differ  from  others  ?  what  is 
the  peculiarity  ?  " 

"  It  refuses  to  be  described.  Yet  you  know  there  are  many 
things  from  which  we  take  intelligence,  that  no  words  can 
convey ;  for  it  is  not  in  our  faces  alone,  or  our  forms,  or  our 
voices,  that  our  individuality  appears,  but  it  glances  from 
every  motion,  and  there  is  a  susceptibility  which  notes  a  pe 
culiarity  in  each  person's  atmosphere." 

"  That  is  a  region  which  gathers  no  statistics,  only  the  strik 
ing  coincidence  is  remembered.  But  you  would  never  have 
made  my  steps  a  study,  if  you  were  not  too  nervously  awaiting 
their  coming ;  and  that,  in  time,  will  steal  the  color  from  these 
sweet  lips,"  he  concluded,  pressing  them  to  his. 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  127 

Twining  his  black  locks  around  her  fingers,  Flora  pleaded, 
"  Now  don't  you  say  any  thing  more  against  my  sitting  up 
until  you  come ;  for  if  I  retire  I  cannot  sleep,  and  the  pillow 
muffles  my  ear  so  that  I  cannot  hear;  and  then,  if  I  chance 
to  drowse  a  moment,  I  awaken  with  a  start,  like  one  who  falls 
asleep  in  church." 

"  If  I  were  you  I  would  dismiss  the  thoughts  that  60  trouble 
the  night.  Yet  I  suppose  you  will  continue  in  the  way  which 
you  have  chosen ;  and  I  may  try  to  prevent  you  from  watch 
ing  by  coming  earlier  hereafter." 

Flora  did  riot  trust  herself  to  reply,  but  kissed  him  again 
and  again,  and  clung  to  him  as  though  from  the  deep  of  her 
heart  the  mists  of  fear  were  climbing  up  the  sky  of  hope. 

Indeed,  Featherstone  was  not  what  he  had  once  appeared 
to  her  to  be ;  and,  as  time  moved  on,  there  were  not  wanting 
other  indications  of  change  —  for  such  truth  gets  various  con 
firmation —  which  came  to  trouble  "the  spirit  of  her  dream." 
They  had  no  true  social  relation.  The  circumstances  of  their 
connection  tended  to  prevent  them  from  entering  into  conver 
sation  on  the  themes  which  agitate  and  elevate  the  human 
mind.  If  they  continued  together  for  any  length  of  time 
during  the  day,  he  appeared  moody,  and  his  tone  became  hard 
and  his  accent  unkindly,  so  that  Flora  would  take  refuge  in 
silence ;  this  made  the  Sabbath  as  long  as  childhood  finds  it  in 
the  house  of  the  grave  and  formal.  Only  for  moments  did  he 
caress  ;  in  truth,  what  else  might  be  expected  of  him,  when 
his  attachment  penetrated  no  deeper  than  the  passions  ?  It  is 
doubtful  whether  a  nature  like  his  can  ever  soar  to  those 
heights  of  love  where  no  cloud  of  selfishness  obscures  the  in 
effable  heaven ;  certainly,  on  the  path  which  he  had  taken 
there  was  little  hope,  for  how  could  he  be  made  to  see  that 
her  way  was  noblest,  and  strive  humbly  to  walk  therein  ? 
What  could  curb  such  a  nature  into  showing  any  respect  for 


128  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

one  who  was  subject  to  him  ?  No  such  emotion  could  reach 
Featherstone  over  the  wall  of  circumstance  which  divided 
them,  for  his  was  not  one  of  those  hearts  that  feel  sad  when 
they  can  give  no  more ;  but,  under  the  most  favorable  circum 
stances,  it  seemed  to  him  enough  if  he  attained  to  what  may 
be  termed  delicacy  of  appetite.  Let  it  not  be  supposed  by 
this  that  §fe  is  to  be  classed  with  the  grosser  crowd,  "  the  mob 
of  gentlemen  who  live  at  ease."  On  the  contrary,  he  almost 
nightly  declined  the  invitations  of  the  "  elegants,"  with  whom 
he  associated,  to  descend  to  their  pleasures ;  so  that  they 
thought  him  squeamish,  and  marked  him  as  peculiar. 

Flora  saw,  also,  that  he  was  ambitious,  that  he  had  not  yet 
reached  his  aim ;  and  consequently  she  felt  that  sooner  or 
later  he  was  capable  of  casting  off  every  weight  which  he 
thought  might  retard  his  rising.  And,  notwithstanding  his 
usual  playfulness  and  occasional  tenderness,  she  was  aware  that 
in  no  hour  of  calm  and  thoughtful  joy  did  he  think  of  her  as 
an  attainment,  or,  when  storms  lowered,  did  he  turn  to  her 
bosom  as  a  haven  of  rest.  Being  almost  secluded,  and  having 
trusted  so  deeply,  she  studied  her  lover  in  every  light  in  which 
he  presented  himself.  As  they  grew  intimate,  and  glimpses 
of  his  character  more  and  more  frequently  came  up  to  view, 
which  threw  doubt  on  the  tenure,  she  fell  to  examining  her 
security,  as  a  miser  might  pore  over  a  disputed  title  to  his 
whole  estate.  So,  at  length,  she  saw  all ;  and  having  been 
endowed  by  nature  with  a  fortitude  of  soul  which  could  meet 
fate,  be  that  fate  what  it  might,  she  slowly  and  sadly  admitted 
into  her  mind  the  possibility  of  change.  It  was  from  this  dis 
covery  that,  painfully  yet  perseveringly,  she  began  to  build  up 
in  her  heart  a  separate  existence,  and  in  time  came  to  enter 
it  with  composure,  and  pray  for  its  continuance.  It  gave  her 
strength  and  elevation  to  go  down  and  muse  there  ;  so  that 
Featherstone  saw  —  when  she  came  out  as  from  some  myste- 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  129 

rious  place,  like  Numa  from  the  Egerian  grotto,  to  greet  his 
coming  —  that  she  had  a  soul  which  could  dwell  apart ;  an 
apparition  that  chastened  his  manners  and  imposed  a  more 
thoaghtful  course  on  his  conversation.  Strange  to  say,  this 
did  lot  please  him  ;  for,  however  he  might  have  valued  it  in 
anotler,  here  he  had  looked  only  for  dalliance  ;  indeed,  he 
had  rever  thought  of  his  mode  of  life  as  any  thing  permanent, 
but  ody  as  an  arrangement  for  a  time. 

So  yewing  the  connection,  the  birth  of  a  son,  in  the  autumn 
after  Morton's  departure,  did  not  help  to  bind  their  union,  but 
set  him  ^  harden  himself  against  all  its  natural  influences. 
He  wouldnot  permit  it  to  take  his  Christian  name,  although 
the  then  fo\d  girl  and  doting  mother  implored  him  with  tears. 
He  would  n>t  caress  it  or  smile  upon  it,  but  turned  away  as 
though  he  lathed  the  sight,  yea,  dreaded  that  sweet  bud  of 
life,  that  hea^nly  flower,  with  capacity  of  infinite  unfolding, 
which  nature  l^d  committed  to  his  care. 

This  was  too\jhill  a  blast  for  even  her  affection ;  and  sor 
rowing  over  it  l\ig,  at  length  every  tear  turned  to  stone,  to 
form  a  dividing  wHl,  and  shape  into  a  habitation  separate  from 
that  which  Feathostone  had  promised  her ;  for  she  felt  the 
need  of  a  sanctuarywhereto  she  could  take  her  son,  making  it 
not  only  a  holy  but  \  happy  place. 

In  this  way  the  chid  came  to  be  the  hope  of  Flora,  as  he 
was  the  solace  of  IVadam,  giving  her  almost  constant  em 
ployment  during  Hertz's  long  absence,  and  that  too  of  such 
a  charming  nature,  it  \aved  her  from  many  lonely,  sad,  and 
desolate  thoughts. 

To  appearance,  Madanhad  not  greatly  changed  since  Mer- 
ton's  departure.  SomethLr  Of  her  flesh,  it  may  be,  had  gone ; 
yet,  though  she  saw  maiir  silent  hours,  and  often  wore  an 
introverted  eye,  she  still  Rd  health  and  heart.  Her  chief 
struggle  had  been  in  the  par\ng  hour ;  for  she  saw  in  it  a  con- 


130  THE    MUSTEE,     OB 

viction  that  he  would  never  more  return  ;  and  she  felt  nearly 
all  that  she  might  have  done  had  she  closed  his  eyes  for  the 
grave.  Yet  there  was  that  in  the  cause  of  their  separation — 
as  she  understood  it  —  which  awoke  a  resolution  to  bear.  She 
could  not  see,  as  he  did,  the  calamity  which  had  so  crushed 
him  ;  hence  she  thought  that  he  had  gone  forth,  partly  fcr  his 
health,  partly  on  account  of  business,  and  something  (f  dis 
satisfaction  with  his  mode  of  life  —  no  more  ;  for  Mert»n  had 
kept  his  sister's  torture,  and  the  spectral  perturbers  of  his 
spirit,  veiled  from  her  eyes. 

All  communication,  too,  had  closed  with  his  cfeparture. 
She  could  not  write,  because  he  had  made  no  sucl  request ; 
and  if  she  long  cherished  a  hope  of  receiving  a  Better  from 
him,  it  came  not,  nor  any  token  of  remembrance  ;ver  reached 
her  from  his  hand.  If  Featherstone  had  knowledge  of  him,  — 
which  he  rarely  received,  and  then  only  in  relation  to  business  ; 
for  Merton's  affections,  as  in  his  youth,  wen  still  sacred  to 
their  object,  —  it  was  his  humor  to  withhold  i  from  her ;  and, 
situated  as  she  was,  she  could  not  persuad  herself  to  make 
inquiry  in  that  quarter  —  his  bearing  towars  his  child  having 
filled  her  with  distrust  and  dread.  In  truti,  she  did  not  often 
see  him ;  his  footsteps  being  a  warning  fr  the  withdrawal  of 
his  son,  and  she  always  went  with  him. 

To  this  the  child  was  not  averse,  it  7eing  in  the  nature  of 
the  mother,  as  it  was  her  office,  to  gi-de  and  correct,  while 
his  grandmother  was  his  companion  tfd  playmate  —  one  in 
structed,  the  other  amused ;  consequently,  it  is  easy  to  perceive 
with  which  he  preferred  to  pass  the  ^ours. 

Frederick,  or  Fred,  as  they  alwa'S  called  him,  was  a  bright 
and  high-spirited  boy,  quick  to  lear  and  strong  to  retain ;  and 
well  he  might  be,  if  what  Tennyon  sings  be  true,  that  the 
mother  makes  us  most.  He  coul-  already  question  curiously, 
and  Fometimes  deeply ;  while  hi  most  careful  and  considerate 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  131 

mother,  in  this  particular  certainly,  never  wearied  of  answer 
ing,  but  sought  lovingly  to  bring  every  thing,  towards  which 
his  young  mind  was  struggling,  down  to  his  comprehension. 
In  this,  how  few  affectionately  consider,  and  so  are  truly  wise ! 
Yet  to  those  who  heed  and  kindly  help  these  strange  inqui 
rers,  it  will  be  no  surprising  intelligence  when  I  say  that  this 
child  led  Flora  into  new  fields  of  thought,  which  could  not 
but  give  strength  to  her  mind,  and  frequently  filled  her  with 
the  purest  pleasure. 

Such  moments  the  curious  child  was  sure  to  mark  ;  and, 
not  feeling  the  happiness  which  he  saw  that  she  was  enjoying, 
he  would  inquire,  "  What  do  mother  see  ?  Tell  Fred  what  it 
be,  mother." 

But  she  could  not  answer ;  for  she  felt  that  she  had  ranged 
into  a  realm  as  yet  incommunicable  to  him  ;  so  she  kissed 
him,  and  pressed  down  the  lids  of  his  unfathomable  eyes, 
which  seemed  to  be  straining  for  comprehension  ;  drew  him  to 
her  bosom,  called  him  her  darling,  her  treasure,  her  precious 
trust ;  sighed,  and  smiled,  and  wept,  as  she  was  swayed  by 
varying  and  all-blissful  emotion. 

O,  a  child  is  a  divine  gift,  a  sweet  and  long-unfolding  mys 
tery  ;  and  she  who  has  one  that  she  can  love,  and,  for  the  glory 
of  his  promise,  admire,  and  beholds  a  free  field  spread  out 
before  him  in  which  to  expand  and  contend,  with  a  final  tri 
bunal  that  will  consent  to  crown  only  the  most  worthy,  has  but 
little  left  to  sigh  for,  and  can  nerve  herself  to  step  firmly 
among  the  burning  ploughshares. 

At  length  Featherstone  began  to  perceive  that  he  was  not 
the  all  in  all  which  he  once  had  been ;  and  having  no  affection 
for  Fred,  he  naturally  grew  jealous  of  him,  because  he  saw 
that  he  was  the  light  of  Flora's  eyes.  In  this  form  did  his 
offspring  visit  his  spirit,  until  he  received  and  entertained  the 
thought  —  and  came  to  look  calmly  upon  it,  yea,  gloat  over  it 


132  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

—  that  it  was  in  his  power  to  sell  the  boy  whenever  he 
pleased !  He  even  had  it  on  his  tongue's  end,  two  or  three 
times,  for  utterance,  when  Flora  did  not  meet  him  with 
warmth,  although  he  himself  was  cold ;  yet  he  suppressed  it ; 
not  that  he  relented  through  returning  tenderness,  but  because 
he  feared  the  malediction  of  Merton. 

Along  such  a  gulf  had  Featherstone  mused  and  contem 
plated  the  prospect  —  for  he  was  naturally  exacting  and  over 
bearing  ;  while  his  uniform  success,  in  all  his  undertakings, 
had  helped  to  harden  his  heart.  If  fortune  had  favored  him 
with  reverses,  and,  for  a  season,  made  him  feel  some  sad 
ness  and  brokenness  of  spirit,  he  might  have  turned  to  her 
who  would  have  been  quick  to  perceive,  and  skilful  to  pour  wine 
and  oil  into,  his  wounds ;  the  recollection  of  which  would  have 
made  him  less  harsh  and  ungentle,  and  touched  him,  at  times, 
with  tender  and  grateful  thoughts.  But,  as  it  was,  he  could 
talk  about  his  "  arrangement "  (so  he  called  it)  with  his  asso 
ciates,  and  laugh  over  it,  as  though  it  were  merely  a  spring 
blossom,  which  would  fall  to  the  earth,  or  wanton  with  the 
winds,  whenever  something  more  desirable  should  naturally 
put  forth  to  flourish  in  its  place. 

It  was  in  such  a  mood  that  he  received  the  letter  of  Father 
Boniface,  communicating  the  decease  of  Merton.  And  if,  for 
a  moment,  he  was  startled  by  the  sudden  unveiling  of  the 
spectre  that  flits  from  the  grave  to  visit  the  guilty,  he  soon 
shook  it  off,  as  there  arose,  over  all,  the  thought  that  the  bolts 
of  power  had  at  length  descended  to  his  quiver,- arming  him 
to  crush  what  he  could  not  win  —  for  it  was  in  him  to  prefer 
to  subdue  or  even  to  devastate  a  heart,  rather  than  so  attract 
as  to  be  joyfully  invited  to  its  throne. 

It  \vas  not  in  Featherstone  to  perceive  that  Love  is  the 
only  true,  the  only  absolute  ruler  —  the  smile  beaming  from 
her  sacred  lips  being  the  noblest  guerdon  of  devoted  service. 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  133 

He  was  not  awar«  how  every  other  power  curses  the  possessor, 
in  proportion  as  he  sways  it  to  his  own  gain,  hardening  all 
upon  whom  it  falls,  and  rousing  up  resistance  irresistible  ; 
while  Love  melts  and  moulds,  and  gives  form,  and  life,  and  joy 
to  the  universe.  Love,  indeed,  is  that  magic  word  which 
welcomes  the  true  possessor  to  all  that  heart  desires,  and  all 
which  young-eyed  Hope  can  descry  from  her  mount  of  vision. 
12 


134  THE    MUSTEE,    OK 


CHAPTER    XIY. 

Let  us  swear  an  oath,  and  keep  it  with  an  equal  mind, 
In  the  hollow  Lotos  land,  to  live  and  lie  reclined 
On  the  hills  like  gods  together,  careless  of  mankind. 

TENNYSON. 

SOON  after  Featherstone  received  the  letter  of  the  priest,  he 
enclosed  it,  with  the  following  note,  to  the  sister  of  Merton :  — 

"  Dear  Madam :  I  hasten  to  convey  to  you  the  mournful  in 
telligence,  which  I  have  just  received,  of  the  decease  of  your 
brother  and  my  friend ;  trusting  that  you  will  find,  in  the 
attendant  priest's  account  of  the  concluding  scene,  some  conso 
lation  for  the  bereavement. 

"  I  received  another  favor  at  the  same  time  from  the  same 
place,  relating  strictly  to  business,  which,  whenever  it  be  your 
desire  to  hear,  your  request  will  receive  my  attention. 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"A.  FEATHERSTONE. 
"  Mrs.  Mary  Merton  Steel, 
«  Canal  Street,  No. ." 

It  was  on  Friday  morning  when  this  event  was  communi 
cated  ;  and  in  the  church  of  their  faith,  on  the  following 
Sabbath,  the  mourners  listened  to  the  forms  provided  for  con 
solation  in  such  sorrow,  and  were  something  calmed,  if  not 
healed  thereby ;  for  on  Monday,  Featherstone  received  a  line 
requesting  his  presence  in  the  evening.  Complying  with 
the  terms  of  the  note,  he  called  at  the  house,  and,  being 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  135 

ushered  into  the  parlor,  in  a  few  minutes  Mrs.  Steel  made 
her  appearance. 

They  had  never  met  before ;  but  the  slave  having  taken  his 
name  to  his  mistress,  she  advanced  to  where  he  remained 
standing,  and  said,  "  I  am  pleased  to  see  you  in  my  house, 
Mr.  Featherstone ; "  when,  giving  him  her  hand,  she  added, 
"  and  you  have  our  thanks  for  your  delicate  attentions." 

"  I  am  obliged  for  your  kind  expressions  ;  and  permit  me  to 
hope  that  the  excitement  and  distress  of  the  hour,  in  which  I 
received  the  intelligence,  will  excuse  me  for  any  want  of  for 
mality  in  the  way  I  have  presented  myself  to  you." 

"  You  need  have  no  doubt  of  your  action  ;  indeed,  I  esteem 
it  a  particular  favor ;  and,  besides,  I  believe  we  are  related, 
and  ought  to  have  been  acquainted  before  —  your  mother  was 
very  dear  to  me." 

"  I  have  heard  her  speak  warmly  of  you ;  and  I  should 
like  much  to  hear  you  talk  of  her  at  some  convenient  time,  as 
one  is  always  curious  to  know  how  his  parents  appeared  and 
acted  in  their  young  days." 

"  Your  mother  was  a  sweet  girl  and  my  friend ;  and, 
although  your  general  resemblance  is  not  striking,  inclining  to 
your  father  most,  I  think,  your  hair  is  precisely  like  hers, 
when,  in  our  wild  and  frolicsome  days,  we  used  to  race  down 
the  hills  together,  for  then  it  would  float  in  rings  on  the  wind 
—  but  she  too  has  gone  ! "  — 

Such  thoughts  and  recollections,  mingling  with  her  recent 
grief,  clouded  her  spirit  and  came  down  in  tears,  —  for  Mrs. 
Steel,  though  a  woman  of  firmness,  had  feeling,  and  indulged 
emotion  when  it  would  not  clash  with  her  purpose,  —  but  she 
gave  them  way  without  losing  self-possession  ;  so  they  soon 
ceased. 

Thereupon  Featherstone  said,  "  Shall  I  read  you  the  letter 
to  which  I  alluded  ?  " 


136  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

"  If  you  please,  as  it  is  something  about  which  I  have  been 
not  a  little  anxious ;  so  much  so  that  I  shall  find  some  repose 
in  certainty,  whatever  the  tidings  may  be." 

Mrs.  Steel  had  supposed  that  the  letter  was  from  her  dying 
brother,  and  contained  his  last  directions.  But  it  was  simply 
a  statement  from  the  American  consul  at  Naples,  giving  the 
information  that  there  were  some  thousands  of  dollars  remain 
ing  in  the  hands  of  the  bankers  of  the  deceased,  which  sum 
was  subject  to  the  order  of  his  administrator ;  and  that  his 
other  effects  had  been  sealed  up,  and  would  be  forwarded  by 
the  first  ship. 

Having  finished  the  note,  Mrs.  Steel  remarked,  "I  am 
sorry  to  say  that  it  does  not  give  the  information  I  seek,  which 
was  not  so  much  concerning  property,  as  of  the  singular  dis 
tribution  of  it.  If  this  be  all,  I  am  inclined  to  the  opinion 
that  my  brother  made  a  will ;  indeed  it  was  so  rumored.  You, 
however,  Mr.  Featherstone,  I  have  no  doubt,  are  aware  if 
such  be  the  fact,  as  I  believe  he  confided  in  you  almost  exclu 
sively,  during  the  last  few  months  of  his  remaining  with  us." 

"  I  think  I  may  fairly  infer  from  the  tenor  of  Mr.  Merton's 
conversation  on  that  point,  and  from  certain  dispositions  of 
property  which  he  made  before  departing,  that,  if  he  had  ever 
signed,  he  did  not  leave  such  an  instrument,  unless  he  saw  fit 
to  do  so  after  sailing  for  Europe.  Was  it  recently  that  you 
heard  he  had  made  a  will  ?  " 

"  O,  no ;  it  was  some  time  ago ;  it  was  before  you  came 
south." 

"  If  that  be  the  case  I  think  it  will  never  appear." 

"  You  mentio'ned  the  disposition  of  property ;  did  my  broth 
er  actually  dispose  of  any  of  his  estate  previous  to  going 
abroad  ?  " 

"  Some  portion  of  it  passed  from  his  hands.  He  gave  me 
his  interest  in  the  commission  house  and  the  house  where  he 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  137 

lived.  I  remember,  also,  that  he  spoke  of  the  remainder  of 
his  estate,  —  the  rents,  interest,  and  income  of  which  are  some 
fifteen  thousand  dollars  per  year,  —  and  said  it  was  his  inten 
tion  to  leave  that  for  the  law  to  divide." 

"  You  give  me  great  relief;  as  we  were  afraid  that  he  had 
made  a  will,  in  which  there  might  appear  some  strange  direc 
tions  and  bequests,  for  my  brother  was  a  very  singular  man. 
Are  you  aware  what  course  he  finally  adopted  with  regard  to 
manumitting  certain  persons  ?  " 

"  Do  you  mean  those  at  the  house  where  he  lived  ?  " 

"  My  allusion  was  more  particularly  to  them." 

"  He  made  no  such  intimation  at  the  time,  and  could  not  do 
any  thing  afterwards,  as  every  appurtenance  of  the  establish 
ment  passed  to  me  when  the  titles  which  he  approved  were 
signed." 

"  I  am  rejoiced  to  hear  it,  for  I  believe  it  safe.  Truly,  I 
feel  as  though  it  was  the  finger  of  Providence  which  directed 
his  eyes  to  you,  as  one  worthy  to  receive  benefit  at  his  hands. 
We  feared  that  he  might  do  something  shameful,  for  he  ap 
peared  weak  ;  but  it  seems  now  that  he  was  more  considerate 
than  we  imagined.  He  certainly,  however,  at  one  period  had 
thoughts  of  setting  them  free,  and  of  making  the  connection 
conspicuous  by  giving  them  property,  at  which  time  I  pointed 
out  to  him  not  only  the  folly,  but  the  wickedness,  of  such  a 
course ;  and  as  he  could  not  meet  my  objections  then,  so  he 
appears  to  have  been  unable  to  come  to  the  conclusion,  when 
viewed  in  all  its  complex  and  painful  bearings,  that  such  a 
procedure  would  be  just." 

"  I  did  not  suspect  such  folly  in  him,"  chimed  in  the  obse 
quious  listener. 

"  Mr.  Featherstone,  I  like  charity.  I  respect  philanthropy, 
if  it  keep  within  limits  ;  yet  when  it  trespasses  on  disputed 
ground,  and  proposes  not  to  change  the  laws,  but  to  create  a 
12* 


138  THE     M  U  S  T  E  E  ,     U  II 

class  upon  which  they  necessarily  frown,  and  one  which,  from 
the  nature  of  their  situation,  must  sink  below  the  slave  in 
moral  degradation,  I  confess  that  I  can  see  in  it  nothing  but  a 
'  flattering  unction '  for  human  weakness." 

"  It  gives  me  pleasure  to  say  to  you  that  I  entirely  coincide 
with  your  ideas.  But,  even  if  I  did  not,  I  should  be  the  last 
person  to  disturb  a  law  or  an  approved  custom  in  a  state 
where  I  have  found  such  friends  and  fortune.  And  I  will  add, 
also,  that  I  am  averse  to  change  —  a  disease  which  seems  to  be 
in  the  walls  of  legislative  halls,  and  which  only  serves  to  show 
our  statute  books  to  be  the  mere  wrigglings  of  small  politi 
cians,  like  the  tracks  of  snails  upon  the  shore,  and  with  as 
little  intelligence  or  continuance.  In  truth,  the  laws  of  a  state, 
like  the  shrouds  of  a  ship,  should  not  be  displaced  until  they 
have  become  unsafe ;  and  even  then  it  should  be  attempted 
only  in  times  of  calm  and  security." 

"  Mr.  Featherstone,  had  my  brother  only  possessed  your 
natural  firmness,  or  your  conservative  views,  I  believe  that  he 
might  still  have  been  living  among  us,  honored  and  beloved. 
It  was  not  that  he  turned  aside,  in  the  thoughtless  hours  of  his 
youth,  into  a  doubtful  path  ;  that  I  could  forgive  ;  but  that  he 
would  continue  to  walk  therein,  and  at  length  think  of  laying 
it  open  to  the  eye  of  day,  was  what  filled  me  with  astonish 
ment  and  dread.  Yet  it  seems  he  has  kindly  forborne  the 
stroke,  and  I  pray,  as  I  hope  and  believe,  that  our  family  may 
find  in  you  a  trusty  guardian  of  their  honor." 

"  If  I  do  not  forget  how  much  I  owe  them,  or  swerve  from 
my  own  inclination,  I  think  you  can  venture  to  depend  up 
on  me." 

"  I  believe  I  may  ;  and  I  do  it  with  a  degree  of  satisfaction 
that  is  difficult  of  expression.  Yet  I  cannot  refrain  from  say 
ing  that  the  wealth  which  nfy  brother  conveyed  to  you  I  see 
to  be  worthily  bestowed  ;  so  much  more  worthily  than  I  fear 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  139 

it  would  have  been  had  you  not  come  among  us,  that  you  can 
not  rejoice  in  the  direction  it  has  taken  more  than  I  do.  In 
deed,  I  think  that  when  you  know  me,  —  and  I  hope  to  see  you 
often  in  my  house,  —  you  will  concede  that  it  was  not  the  desire 
for  his  estate  which  haunted  my  sleep  and  clung  like  a  shadow 
to  my  thoughts,  but  the  fear  that  it  would  become  a  blot  on 
our  name.  That  was  my  trouble ;  and  although  it  be  the 
hand  of  affliction  which  has  laid  it  in  its  final  rest,  it  appears  to 
me  like  mockery  to  express  sorrow  at  the  event.  "Not  that  I 
did  not  love  my  brother ;  you  will  not  think  for  a  moment 
that  I  had  not  a  deep  affection  for  Rufus.  All  loved  him  ;  for 

« His  heart  had  a  look  southwards,  and  was  open 
To  the  whole  noon  of  nature.' 

Yet,  if  I  had  the  power,  I  could  not  reanimate  his  form,  so 
much  do  I  dread  the  change  which  might  come.  You  will 
forgive  me,  Mr.  Featherstone,  for  expressing  myself  so  freely 
to  you  ;  but  these  are  my  thoughts  and  feelings,  and  they  would 
have  utterance." 

"  You  certainly  have  no  cause  to  crave  excuse ;  rather  is 
there  need  of  thanks  from  me,  for  your  ideas  and  views  are 
lights  which  help  to  show  me  the  way  ;  and  thus  confirmed 
and  sustained,  I  shall  walk  it  with  celerity  and  confidence.  It 
is  true  that,  before,  I  felt  free  to  act,  seeing  what  Mr.  Merton 
gave  he  gave  without  conditions  ;  yet  you  have  supplied  mo 
tives  that  I  had  not  hitherto  considered,  and  which,  I  now  con 
fess,  seem  to  me  quite  sufficient  for  any  emergency  incident  to 
the  case.  Still,  I  think  that  I  may  well  claim  to  have  long 
looked  upon  this  matter  in  a  more  reasonable  and  practical 
way  than  very  many  among  whom  I  was  bred  are  accustomed 
to  do.  Abstractly,  perhaps,  they  believe  in  the  right  of  the 
people  of  a  state  to  rule,  but  deny  or  decry  the  practice  when 
it  does  not  coincide  with  their  notions." 


140  THE     MUSTEE,    OR 

Much  elated  with  the  assurance  that  her  long  trouble  was 
over,  she  grew  liberal,  and  replied,  "  Let  us  be  just  to  those 
who  hold  different  views  from  our  own,  for  I  do  not  think  you 
give  them  quite  fairly.  I  suppose  they  would  contend  that 
the  slaves  themselves  must  have  a  vote  —  a  horrible  thought  — 
before  they  would  admit  that  the  voice  of  the  people  had  been 
heard.  Mr.  Featherstone,  I  may  say  to  you,  in  this  connec 
tion,  what  I  truly  believe  —  that  slavery  cannot  be  successfully 
defended  on  principle  ;  consequently,  principles  should  never 
be  appealed  to  by  us ;  and  when  they  are  by  .others,  we  must 
point  to  the  vastness  and  complexity  of  the  structure,  and  the 
ruin  which  waits  on  its  overthrow,  and  lament  its  introduction, 
as  I  do  most  sincerely.  Yet  it  appears  to  me  inexplicable,  as 
principles  are  unchanging  and  eternal,  that  the  universal  con 
science  should  have  been  blind  to  this  wrong  in  its  inception, 
which  certainly  was  the  most  propitious  time  to  arrest  and  the 
only  time  to  prevent  it,  if  such  a  course  were  desirable.  Does 
it  not  seem  as  if  Providence  had  some  great  design,  some  far 
prospective  end,  some  infinite  good,  slowly  and  mysteriously 
developing  ?  for  as  his  ways  are  not  our  ways,  who  can  search 
his  counsels !  Surely  I  have  sought  to  measure  it,  and  slavery 
appears  to  me  to  be  here  like  necessity,  having  the  force  of  a 
decree  of  fate;  to  question  it  now  would  be  to  doubt  the  wis 
dom  of  the  divine  Ruler,  as  much  as  though  you  denounced 
the  tempest's  crash,  the  sea's  wrath,  or  the  earthquake's  shock. 
Kindness,  most  certainly,  we  should  feel  towards  every  one  ; 
but  to  think  of  radically  changing  the  condition  of  a  whole 
race  of  men,  and  that  too  by  the  stroke  of  a  pen,  seems  to  be 
a  most  delusive  dream  !  As  I  stand  face  to  face  with  this 
more  than  Grecian  Sphinx,  I  mark  its  capacity  to  devour,  yet 
learn  no  satisfactory  solution  of  its  dread  mystery.  I,  indeed, 
hear  a  distant  cry  of  'Abolition!'  but  I  see  no  lovely  flower 
en  that  stalk  only  after  long  ages  of  culture." 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  141 

"  That  is  a  shriek  of  the  wildest  fanaticism ! "  interposed 
Featherstone. 

"  I  may  be  deceived,"  she  resumed,  "  but  I  believe  my  ser 
vants  are  deeply  attached  to  me,  so  much  so  that  I  doubt  if 
any  one  of  them  has  ever  wished  for  freedom  ;  and  if  I  should 
come  to  imagine  such  an  act  necessary  to  my  happiness,  —  that 
being  generally  the  spur  to  manumission,  —  I  confess  I  do  not 
know  one  among  all  the  number  whom  I  could  reasonably 
hope  to  be  the  gainer  by  the  change !  That  there  are  such,  I 
do  not  doubt ;  for  I  have  seen  two  or  three  who  exalted  their 
chains  into  glorious  ornaments.  There  is  one  of  that  class, 
now  a  steward  on  a  river  steamboat,  who  might  stand  in  any 
presence  and  compete  for  the  highest  favors.  And  when  I 
was  last  at  the  north  I  saw  and  heard  Douglass  ;  in  form  and 
nerve  he  looked  as  though  he  might  have  borne  his  plume  vic 
torious  over  the  proudest  Percy  that  ever  splintered  a  lance 
on  the  border ;  and  when  he  spoke  his  voice  was  so  rich,  and 
his  imagination  so  soaring,  I  could  not  but  bow  to  the  sway  of 
his  spirit,  as  one  of  the  authentic  kings  of  the  race.  Yet 
would  it  be  wise  to  take  this  evidence  as  conclusive  on  the 
whole  subject,  concealing  the  vast  mass  of  the  low  and  im 
provident?  I  state  these  remarkable  instances  that  it  may 
not  be  supposed  I  cannot  see  and  feel,  while  I  have  before  me 
daily  the  darker  and  more  difficult  side,  which  I  seek  to  deal 
with  patiently,  kindly,  and  I  hope  wisely.  Still  there  are 
p'ortents  of  change  which  do  not  escape  me  ;  I  am  aware  that 
it  is  growing  to  be  a  world  question  —  and  why  is  it  ?  unless 
Providence  is  preparing  for  another  step  in  the  deep  and  won 
derful  design  of  the  world's  development. 

"  But,  Mr.  Featherstone,  I  have  detained  you  longer  than 
I  ought ;  and  I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you  for  your  defer 
ence,  and  for  giving  me  so  clear  a  view  of  your  ideas  and 


142  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

consequent  purpose.  If  you  receive  any  further  intelligence, 
which  would  be  interesting  to  us,  I  shall  expect  to  see  you  ; 
and  if  at  any  other  time  it  pleases  you  to  call,  it  will  be  an 
acceptable  attention." 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  143 


CHAPTER    XV. 

They  stood  aloof,  the  scars  remaining, 
Like  cliffs  which  have  been  rent  asunder; 
A  dreary  sea  now  flows  between. 

COLERIDGE. 

ANTHONY  FEATHERSTONE  had  been  in  New  Orleans  some 
thing  more  than  four  years,  and  in  that  period,  by  gift  and 
acquisition,  had  become  rich.  That  he  was  a  man  prone  to 
self-indulgence,  and  had  given  way  to  his  passions,  almost 
without  thought,  —  except  as  his  ambitious  views  might  help 
to  control  or  hide,  —  is  sufficiently  apparent;  yet  the  time  of 
their  sway  had  been  too  short  to  form  inveterate  habits,  and 
he  was  still  young  enough  to  look  to  change  and  variety  as 
the  spice  of  life. 

The  death  of  his  relative  and  patron  had  set  him  free  to 
apply  the  power  that  came  by  his  favor  to  whatever  he  might 
fancy  to  be  for  his  advantage  or  pleasure.  Hence  —  having 
no  ties  to  the  past,  and  no  settled  course  for  the  future,  save  a 
desire  for  the  new  —  he  will  soon  shift  the  scene.  In  truth, 
he  had  quickly  resolved  to  leave  New  Orleans,  for  a  time, 
and  visit  some  places  and  friends  at  the  north  ;  and,  as  he 
prided  himself  on  his  decision  and  rapidity  of  movement,  it 
was  only  the  fourth  day  after  the  interview  in  the  last  chap 
ter,  when  he  had  made  all  his  arrangements,  and  was  ready 
to  take  the  boat  for  Louisville. 

On  the  evening  previous  to  the  day  of  his  leaving  the  city, 
he  met  some  friends,  whom  he  had  invited  to  a  sumptuous 
entertainment  in  the  St.  Charles,  and,  as  the  viands  kept  up 


144  THE     MUSTEE,     OR 

the  renown  of  the  house,  so  the  wine  kept  up  the  hilarity  of 
the  company.  Consequently  the  hour  of  adjournment  got  one 
or  two  extensions. 

When  the  generous  entertainer  and  the  jovial  guests  sep 
arated,  with  ardent  mutual  admiration,  and  many  times  re 
peated  farewells,  Featherstone  took  a  carriage  to  his  house  ; 
not  that  he  thought  it  might  be  difficult  walking,  but  because 
repletion  had  rendered  him  inert ;  for  such  orgies  exhaust 
rather  than  refresh,  —  which  is  Nature's  design  in  all  her 
gifts,  —  and  are  generally  followed  by  bad  nights  and  worse 
mornings. 

Reaching  the  house,  he  made  his  way  in,  to  find  Flora 
awaiting  him,  as  usual ;  and  as  she  had  changed  somewhat  in 
appearance  since  he  first  saw  her,  —  having  lost  the  sweet 
rose  of  youth,  which  was  all  that  Featherstone  had  seen  to 
admire,  —  so  his  treatment  of  her  had  changed  also.  Not 
that  he  could  not  feel,  and  duly  appreciate,  intellectual  beau 
ty,  when  he  thought  it  rightly  placed  and  appropriately  exer 
cised  ;  but  here,  and  by  such  a  one,  and  in  such  relations,  it 
was  as  unsuited  and  distasteful  to  him  as  it  would  be  to  a 
child  to  have  the  round  and  rosy  face  of  her  doll  sculptured 
and  paled  into  a  likeness  of  Socrates. 

A  mere  girl,  brought  up  in  deep  seclusion,  and  talking  of 
the  most  poetically  colored  of  romances  as  though  it  had  been, 
and  might  be,  actual  life,  when  she  pleased  the  taste  and 
stirred  the  passion  of  Featherstone,  the  few  years  that  she 
had  associated  with  him  had  been  to  her  a  full-leafed  tree  of 
knowledge.  Under  such  influence  her  brow  had  expanded 
and  elevated  its  arch  ;  and  if  her  eyes  were  less  lustrous,  they 
had  gained  in  depth,  and  "through  them  emotion  came  like 
flame.  Neither  were  her  lips  the  full  flowing  curves  that 
they  once  had  been,  but  close  knit,  like  armor ;  and  the  upper 
one  was  so  curling  and  flexible  that  a  shadow  dwelt  above  it, 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  145 

which  moved  in  play  or  menace  according  to  the  nature  of 
the  thought  or  feeling  which  animated  it. 

Finding  that  she  could  not  implicitly  lean  on  her  lover,  she 
had  been  gathering  strength  to  stand  alone :  reading  much 
and  meditating  more,  she  was  slowly  but  surely  feeling  out 
her  relations  to  the  universe.  So  came  doubts  with  regard  to 
her  connection  with  Featherstone,  and  its  duration  —  came  to 
fill  a  heart  which  love  was  vacating.  Thus  she  arose  to  see 
that  he  was  growing  coarse  and  low,  while  her  upward  and 
unfolding  spirit  was  panting  for  a  purer  region.  In  fine,  she 
had  learned  that  male  and  female,  those  mysterious  counter 
parts  of  nature,  so  tenderly  and  so  divinely  drawn  to  be  one, 
must  be  absolutely  one,  or  sever ;  aught  less  is  debasing,  sin 
ful,  woful. 

Thus  had  she  been  musing  when  Featherstone  entered  her 
presence,  gorged  with  food  and  flushed  with  wine.  Seeing 
him  in  such  condition,  her  eyes  drooped  and  filled  with  tears 
—  not  drops  of  fond  affection,  such  as  in  the  earlier  days  so 
many  times  welcomed  his  coming,  but  tears  of  regret,  sorrow 
ful  and  bitter  waters,  such  as  no  dead  sea  can  yield. 

Featherstone  did  not  fail  to  observe  her  mood,  for  he  was 
sharp-sighted  at  such  times,  and  said,  "  What  are  you  crying 
for  now  ?  It  seems  to  me  that  this  is  something  new  "  (for 
there  had  been  a  dry  season).  "  Do  you  wish  for  any  thing, 
that  you  take  up  these  womanish  weapons,  hoping  to  win  ?  " 

"  No,"  she  mildly  replied,  holding  her  handkerchief  to  her 
face. 

"  Are  you  sick,  then  ?  I  see  that  you  are  getting  to  be 
nothing  but  skin  and  bones.  What  ails  you  ?  Can  you  tell  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  know  that  I  can,"  she  answered,  still  grieving ; 
"  only  that  my  life  has  long  been  growing  sad,  so  that  to  think 
upon  it  is  to  be  unhappy." 

"  Unhappy  !  "  echoed  he  ;  "  what  have  you  to  be  unhappy 
13 


146  THE    MUSTEE,    OE 

about  ?  Is  not  every  thing  which  appetite  or  even  taste  can 
ask  provided  and  presented,  as  though  you  were  the  minion 
of  fortune  ?  " 

Flora  had  suppressed  her  emotion  during  this  reply ;  and 
turning  a  calm  and  penetrating  glance  upon  him,  she  in 
quired,  "  Do  you  think  that  such  materials  can  fill  the  meas 
ure  of  life  ?  Has  the  heart  no  hope,  no  need,  beside  ?  " 

"  Is  there  to  be  complaint  on  that  score  ?  Well,  this  is 
amusing!  Why,  I  have  not  remained  away  from  here  a 
single  night  since  I  first  knew  you,  if  'not  out  of  the  city  ! 
Come,  tell  me,  am  I  to  be  accused  and  tried  for  inconstancy 
or  neglect  ?  " 

"  Can  frequent  presence  supply  the  want  of  continuous  and 
ever-increasing  affection  ?  " 

"  Well,  really,  this  is  exquisite !  Why,  my  lady,  my  friends 
actually  laugh  at  me  for  the  singleness  of  my  love  !  " 

"  I  am  sorry  that  you  have  such  friends  —  if  those  can  be 
called  friends  who  seek  to  sully  things  to  their  own  taste  by 
sneering  at  the  unity  of  love,  making  their  defilement  their 
boast,  and  insinuating  doubts  on  all  virtue.  You  may  smile  ; 
and  I  can  well  understand  that  you  think  I  have  fallen  too 
low  to  talk  thus  ;  but,  frail  as  I  am,  I  can  read  Byron  and 
scorn  his  despicable  opinion  of  women  ;  for,  in  my  soul,  I 
believe  that  it  is  not  true ;  even  my  eyes  refuse  to  look  long 
on  such  scarlet  robes." 

"  I  believe  it  has  been  admitted  that  he  wrote  from  expe 
rience." 

"  I  do  not  doubt  that ;  yet,  vain  boaster  as  he  is,  he  sings 
only  of  his  successes,  and  heightens  those  with  all  the  hues  of 
a  gorgeous  imagination,  and  the  music  of  the  most  eloquent 
numbers ;  while  he  keeps  secret  —  the  only  secrets  he  ever 
kept  —  the  rebuffs  and  rebukes  that  should  appear  on  his  page, 
without  which  there  cannot  be  full  truth  in  the  picture." 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  147 

"  I  should  think,  by  the  color  of  your  cheeks,  that  your 
health  might  be  better  than  it  was  when  I  came  in." 

"  It  may  be  for  the  moment ;  but  so  long  as  the  cause  of 
pain  remains,  and  continues  operative,  I  have  little  hope  of 
improvement." 

"  Ah !  indeed ;  have  you  really  any  complaint  to  make 
against  me  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  have  cause  of  complaint  even  against  you  !  and,  if 
a  slave  may  be  permitted  to  speak,  my  thoughts  are  already 
ripe  for  utterance."  • 

"  Well,  this  is  very  romantic ;  but  go  on  —  I  listen." 

"  Would  it  were  romantic ;  but  that  dream  has  gone.  Was 
I  wrong  in  believing  that  those  who  love  grow  more  and  more 
to  resemble  each  other,  and  must  I  give  up  my  faith  in  the 
fond  idea  because  our  experience  affords  no  confirmation  of 
the  doctrine  ?  " 

"  Do  you  fancy  it  in  my  power  to  change  my  nature  ?  "  he 
inquired  sneeringly. 

"  That  you  have  been  changing  and  are  greatly  changed  is 
what  I  am  left  to  deplore  ;  for  when  we  first  met,  only  a  brief 
time  since  if  compared  with  the  length  of  life,  you  had  the 
power  or  the  art  to  make  your  voice  soft  and  touching  — 
where  is  it  now  ?  Your  flesh  was  fair  and  your  expression 
kindly  —  what  has  so  sadly  changed  them  ?  You  were  ten 
der  and  considerate  —  now  you  are  harsh  and  hasty ;  sim 
ply  a  thing  for  your  convenience  am  I  regarded  Time  was 
when  you  met  me  with,  what  I  believed  to  be,  the  smile  and 
the  kiss  of  love  ;  but  they  vanished  long  ago.  Yet,  having 
hope  that  these  were  but  the  opening  bloom,  I  thought  what 
might  the  fruit  be ;  and,  may  I  ask,  what  is  it  ?  Even  the 
so  fair  promise  is  but  as  dust  in  my  eyes  ;  and  am  I  ex 
pected  to  sit  in  the  dreary  waste  and  think  it  the  garden 
of  life. 


148  THE    M  U  S  T  E  E  ,    0  K 

"  Have  you  found  the  end  of  your  lecture  ? " 

"  I  will  hear  you." 

"  You  are  rather  emphatic !  otherwise  I  do  not  know  that 
I  have  any  particular  fault  to  find  with  your  statement  of  the 
matter,  as  it  seems  to  be  a  general  charge  of  not  coming  up 
to  a  mere  school  girl's  fancies  —  something  which,  among 
people  of  experience,  would  be  passed  with  a  smile  ;  but  you 
are  so  situated  I  think  it  well  to  stoop  to  reason  the  case,  and 
so  give  you  a  practical  view  —  for  you  have  lived  so  secluded 
that  you  have  had  no  opportunity  to  learti  human  nature,  and 
particularly  the  nature  of  men.  And  I  will  say,  for  your  in 
struction,  and  once  for  all,  to  impress  it  on  your  memory,  that 
no  rational  person  expects  the  things  of  which  you  speak  are 
to  continue  ;  they  belong  to  the  honeymoon,  and  naturally 
wane  with  it.  Therefore  these  changes,  of  which  you  com 
plain,  occur  in  nine  families  in  ten,  and  are  the  contemplated 
results  of  years  of  intimacy  ;  such  years  are  apt  to  be  a  little 
disenchanting." 

"  Then  advancing  years,  to  nine  in  ten,  are  only  steps  which 
lead  down  to  misery,  perhaps  to  hell." 

"  Well,  if  it  be  so,  it  will  do  no  good  to  whine  over  it.  So 
you  had  better  accept  life  as  you  find  it,  and  take  a  view  of 
things  that  you  may  hope  to  carry  into  practice  ;  for  all  this, 
of  undying  affection  and  what  not,  is  but  the  vision  of  poetry." 

"  If  the  poets  have  brought  down  from  heaven  a  life  more 
congenial  to  the  heart  than  that  which  mortals  live,  I  desire  to 
close  my  eyes  and  dream  their  dream." 

"  If  you  think  of  dreaming,  we  had  better  retire." 

"  I  do  not  wish  to,  now." 

"  But  I  do." 

"  If  you  so  choose  I  presume  you  can  ;  at  least  I  will  not 
delay  you."" 

"  Are  you  not  going  with  me,  when  I  ask  you  ?  " 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  149 

"  Not  immediately." 

"  You  look  very  much  as  though  you  did  not  intend  to  come 
at  all." 

"  Perhaps  I  may  not ;  would  you  have  me,  unless  it  be 
my  wish?" 

"  Do  you  dare  to  say  to  me  that  you  do  not  desire  it  fur 
ther?" 

"  Does  it  require  courage  to  say  so  small  a  part  of  what  I 
feel  ?  " 

"  Courage  ! "  sneered  he  ;  "  do  you  know  what  you  are  ? 
Are  you  aware  that  a  bill  of  sale  can  pass  you  whenever  and 
wherever  I  please  ?  " 

"  It  may  be  so  ;  yet  I  see  nothing  in  that  which  can  change 
my  sentiments,  or  prevent  me  from 'uttering  them." 

"  If  you  undertake  to  bully  me,  you  will  find  it  rough  work 
before  you  get  over  the  consequences  of  it." 

"  If  I  had  any  still  lingering  feelings  of  fondness,  such  breath 
might  well  wither  them  !  Is  it  possible  you  have  sunk  so  low 
as  to  think  that  threats  of  force  can  command  love,  or  pass 
even  the  border  of  her  dominion  ?  Strong  as  you  boast  your 
self,  and  feeble  as  I  know  I  am,  do  you  believe  that,  having 
once  been  excluded  from  her  realm,  you  may  ever  soar  her 
height  again  ?  " 

"  You  are  quite  lofty  to-night,  my  queen  !  It  may  be  you 
expect  that  I  shall  humble  myself  before  you :  perhaps  you 
have  deluded  yourself  into  the  belief  that  you  have  the  com 
mand  here  ?  " 

"  I  claim  no  right  of  yours,  I  presume  to  no  rule  beyond 
myself;  yet  this  extends  so  far,  that,  when  I  am  forced  to  the 
sad  conviction  of  misplaced  and  misused  affections,  I  know 
no  power  which  can  prevent  them  from  returning  to  my  own 
bosom." 

"  This  is  very  fine  ;  but  isn't  it  rather  a  small  occasion  for 
13* 


150  THE    M  US  TEE,    OR 

quite  so  much  display  ?  for  I  am  not  aware  that  I  said  or  did 
any  thing  to  warrant  such  a  performance.  Yet,  as  it  appears 
to  be  over,  I  am  willing  to  let  it  pass  without  further  notice, 
for  I  am  fatigued  and  sleepy.  I  suppose  that  you  got  out  of 
patience  in  waiting,  and  I  believe  I  did  come  in  somewhat 
later  than  usual ;  perhaps  I  was  to  blame,  but  I  could  not  well 
avoid  doing  as  I  did." 

Thereupon,  rising  up,  he  continued  as  he  took  a  light, 
"  Come,  let  us  retire,  and  you  will  feel  better  in  the  morning." 

"  Morning  has  already  dawned  on  me ;  and  I  hope  that  I 
am  fully  awake  :  I  have  had  a  long  dream,  but  when  even 
a  dream  grows  too  distressing,  it  breaketh  sleep ;  and  mine 
was  such." 

"  Do  you  wish  to  quarrel  with  me  ?  Have  you  the  pre 
sumption  to  extend  your  flurry  further  ?  and  that  too  after  I 
have  intimated  forgiveness  of  the  past  ?  " 

"  The  storm  in  me  is  still.  I  have  only  been  relating  the 
story  of  its  devastation  —  a  devastation  which,  certainly,  no  rude 
gust  of  the  same  gale  can  ever  revive  to  bloom  or  verdure." 

"  It  does  not  become  me  to  hear  more  of  this.  So  now  I 
leave  you  ;  and  you  can  do  what  you  please  ;  but  I  give  you 
warning  that,  if  you  do  not  repent,  you  will  come  to  feel  the 
retribution  in  every  bone  of  your  body." 

"  I  hope  that  I  have  repented." 

"  Then  why  don't  you  rise  up  and  go  with  me  ?  " 

"  I  have  repented  that  I  ever  did  go  ;  and  in  the  serene 
calmness  of  my  soul  I  see  the  sign  of  forgiveness." 

"  O,  you  are  getting  pious  —  are  you  ?  You  had  better  be 
come  one  of  the  Sisters  of  Charity  !  " 

"  If  I  were  free,  I  know  no  vocation  that  would  be  more 
soothing  to  my  heart,  or  could  sooner  heal  its  wounds." 

"  The  devil  take  me  but  I  will  make  you  feel  that  you  are 
not  free,  and  never  shall  be,  unless  you  lower  your  tone 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  151 

amazingly  !  Are  you  blind  ?  Yet  I  have  said  all  that  I  can 
say.  I  stoop  no  further.  I  leave  you  to  reflection,  commending 
to  you  a  careful  review  of  your  conduct  and  position  ;  taking 
into  consideration  also  that  I  am  your  sole  judge,  having  power 
to  cast  you  as  low  as  the  brutes,  and  your  imp  along  with  you, 
and  to  bind  both  to  lie  there  until  you  lie  in  the  grave." 
And,  closing  the  door  with  a  jerk,  his  heavy  tread  at  length 
died  away  in  his  chamber. 

When  all  was  still  Flora  rose  up  and  took  the  dirk,  which 
was  Park's  parting  gift  to  Featherstone,  from  the  mantel 
piece,  where  it  had  long  lain  as  an  ornament,  and  placing.it  in 
her  bosom,  sought  the  room  in  which  her  child  was  sleeping ; 
where,  only  partially  disrobing,  she  nestled  down  beside  him, 
and  slept  the  troubled  sleep  of  those  who  fear  a  disturbing 
hand  ;  but  apprehension  was  her  sole  visitant  that  night,  as 
nothing  more  real  came  to  molest  her.  Featherstone's  sleep 
was  heavy,  and  stretched  far  on  with  the  morning.  The 
mosquitoes  had  ceased  their  music,  and  drawn  off  from  his 
"bar"  to  seek  some  deeper  shade  from  the  yellow  day,  when 
he  aroused  himself  and  slowly  gathered  his  scattered  senses, 
so  that,  recollection  having  fully  mastered  the  closing  scene  of 
the  evening,  he  rose  partly  up,  and  looked  around  to  see  if 
there  were  any  signs  that  Flora  had  been  with  him.  But 
there  were  none  to  be  seen;  the  bed  was  marked  only  by  his 
form  ;  and  no  kind  hand  had  even  raised  the  window  that  he 
might  breathe  the  morning  air. 

So,  gathering  the  evidence  and  comprehending  its  import, 
fiercely,  he  muttered  a  curse,  and  laughed  a  bitter  laugh  — 
when,  looking  at  his  watch,  he  arose  hastily  and  hurriedly 
dressed  himself. 

Having  made  ready  for  his  departure,  he  completed  his  ap 
propriate  work  by  taking  the  few  jewels  of  value,  that  lay  on 
Flora's  dressing  table,  which  were  his  gifts,  with  the  diamond 


152  THE    MUSTEK,    OR 

cross  that  was  Merton's,  and  placing  them  in  his  pocket,  he 
drew  out  a  newspaper  in  which  was  a  notice  of  his  benefac 
tor's  death,  and,  marking  the  article,  left  it  in  the  place  of  the 
things  he  had  appropriated. 

Although  he  took  the  valuables  from  the  table  with  some 
degree  of  savage  satisfaction,  yet,  when  he  turned  to  the  latch 
he  lifted  it  with  the  stealth  of  a  felon ;  and,  so  descending  the 
stairs,  passed  out  at  the  open  door  where,  a  few  years  before, 
the  moonlight  had  fallen  so  sweetly,  and  beauty  and  innocence 
arose  on  him  so  charmingly,  without  a  single  lingering  glance 
or  parting  word,  or  sorrow  for  the  sullied  and  trampled  bloom. 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  153 


»  CHAPTER    XVI. 

The  sea  of  love  that  lies  before 

He  does  not  calmly,  coldly  shun  ; 
But  guarded  walks  its  sunny  shore, 

Until  some  shining  goal  be  won. 

ANOX. 

BRIAN  PARK  had  so  risen  in  these  years,  that  great  ques 
tions  began  to  feel  the  grasp  of  his  intellect.  Yet  he  had  not 
won  that  position,  income,  and  influence,  which  he  felt  not 
only  to  be  desirable  but  indispensable,  before  making  a  formal 
declaration  of  his  love,  and  saying  to  Miss  Vernon,  the  hope 
of  his  heart  was  that  she  would  be  his  bride  ;  although  he  saw 
himself  advancing  with  sure  steps  along  that  upward  path. 

Thus,  not  being  declared  lovers,  there  were  occasions  when 
they  did  not  quite  understand  each  other ;  still  there  wras  strong 
sympathy  between  them,  so  that  they  met  gladly  ;  for  in  many 
respects  they  were  congenial  spirits,  and  moved  to  the  music 
of  the  same  chords. 

The  nobility  of  one's  nature,  with  its  delicate  sense  of  honor, 
is  frequently  in  the  way  of  that  success  which  takes  the  world's 
applause ;  hence  that  self-control  of  which  Park  was  so  stu 
dious  in  his  attentions  to  Aurelia.  For  he  had  some  respect 
for  the  hope  or  desire  of  parents ;  so  that  he  could  not  clutch 
at  their  fruit,  although  it  might  lean  to  his  hand,  when  a  few 
more  months  would  bring  those  golden  rays  which  kindly  part 
it  from  the  bough.  With  such  views  he  rarely  called  at  the 
dwelling  of  Miss  Vernon :  their  meetings  were  at  the  resi 
dences  of  mutual  acquaintance,  by  friendly  invitation,  or  at 


154  THE     MUSTEE,     OR 

the  house  of  Mrs.  Summers,  \vho  had  found  opportunity  of  re 
newing  their  acquaintance,  and  took  especial  pride  and  pleasure 
in  having  her  for  a  guest. 

Those  were  thrilling  moments,  moments  not  easily  obliter 
ated  from  the  memory,  when,  on  leaving  the  place  where  they 
had  passed  the  evening,  he  drew  her  arm  within  his,  while 
they  turned  towards  the  quiet  and  shadowy  street  on  which 
Aurelia  lived.  The  fair  form  so  near,  yet  so  sacred  and  so 
sweetly  trusting,  and  leaning  so  softly,  yet  somehow  so  magi 
cally,  that  it  quickens  the  pulse  with  the  fond  whispers  of  the 
tender  passion,  — these  are  forever  of  the  mysteries  of  creation, 
which  the  heart  yearns  to  solve  with  something  of  divine  ardor. 

Had  Park  been  of  the  common  mould  he  would  have 
reached  betrothal  long  ago,  or  separation  —  for  the  one  thought 
would  have  swallowed  up  all  others  ;  making  their  walks  silent 
until  the  hope  of  possession  had  struggled  up  to  utterance,  so 
to  be  quenched,  or  to  become  the  flame  that  consecrates  the 
altar.  But,  being  more  delicately  organized,  and  more  widely 
developed,  he  could  feel  this  thirst  of  the  soul,  and  make  but 
far-oiF  sign  —  only  some  tender  tone  running  through  the 
music  of  his  conversation,  some  loveliest  dye,  as  it  were,  just 
tingeing  all  his  thoughts. 

It  was  a  warm  night  in  June  when,  as  they  turned  away 
from  his  home,  Park  said  to  Aurelia,  "  Then  you  think  of 
leaving  us,  for  a  time,  to  enter  into  the  more  exciting  life  of 
the  watering  places  ?  " 

"  Yes,  such  is  my  mother's  desire ;  and  I  expect  to  go  in 
company  with  your  cousin,  by  whose  favor  we  first  met  —  do 
you  remember  ?  " 

Park  saw  the  opportunity,  but  self-respect  curbed  him,  and 
whispered,  "  Wait ! "  So  he  simply  replied,  "  Yes,  it  was  a 
bright  hour,"  and  paused  ;  when  he  should  have  added,  "  and 
I  can  never  forget  it ;  for,  from  the  hope  that  arose  in  me,  on 


LOVE     AND    LIBERTY.  155 

that  evening,  come  electric  messages  which  have  kept  my 
heart,  and  exalted  my  ambition."  Yet  he  suppressed  this, 
and  what  would  have  inevitably  followed  thereon  ;  not  that  he 
did  not  feel  it,  but  because  he  thought  his  manner  sufficiently 
demonstrative,  until  his  preparation  was  more  full,  and  his 
power"  more  widely  conceded. 

Aurelia  had  hoped  that  he  might  carry  the  suggestion  on 
even  to  a  declaration  ;  and,  being  disappointed,  she  regretted 
having  made  the  allusion.  So  when  she  took  up  the  conver 
sation,  as  she  did  immediately,  she  changed  the  drift  of  the 
theme,  and  said,  "I  suppose  you  like  the  city  so  well,  and 
have  vowed  yourself  so  exclusively  to  your  profession,  that 
you  will  remain  here  quite  through  the  summer,  as  I  believe 
you  always  have  done." 

"  I  have  not  thought  of  going  away ;  for  the  chase  of  what 
is  called  pleasure  has  never  attracted  me.  Besides,  the  '  Lady 
Common  Law '  is  a  jealous  mistress  ;  consequently,  I  must 
win  her  complete  confidence  before  I  shall  venture  from  her 
side." 

"  Do  you  find  the  study  and  the  practice  of  the  law  so  fill 
the  mind  as  to  satisfy  ?  " 

"  Satisfaction,  for  any  length  of  time,  I  imagine,  is  not  often 
found  ;  yet  I  think  that  one  of  my  profession  may  win  it  as 
frequently  as  those  of  any  other." 

"  That  I  can  well  believe ;  receiving,  as  it  does,  the  most 
striking  recognition  for  its  long  and  laborious  days,  in  tri 
umphal  hours,  in  the  world's  proud  arenas.  Whenever  I  think 
of  the  laurelled  chiefs  of  your  order,  I  desire  to  be  a  man,  that 
I  might  try  to  master  the  weapons  and  join  the  march ;  hoping 
to  so  cleave  my  way  as,  at  length,  to  champion  some  great  cause 
of  the  trembling  state." 

"  Yes,  there  is  something  dazzling  in  its  mighty  passages  at 
arms  ;  yet  you  little  dream  of  the  fatigue  of  the  preceding 


156  THE     MUSTEE,     OR 

march,  and  of  the  dark  and  loathsome  ways  through  which 
it  leads,  wherein  most  must  tread  who  reach  those  bannered 
lists,  so  charming  to  the  eye  of  the  distant  gazer." 

"  Is  the  practice,  then,  so  repulsive  ?  I  have  never  heard 
you  complain." 

"  Why  should  I,  when  it  becomes  him  who  resolves  to  ac 
complish  a  purpose  to  do  it  cheerfully  ?  Yet  I  believe  that 
nothing,  save  the  sanguine  heart  of  youth,  can  go  through  it 
thus ;  and  even  the  most  hopeful  and  gifted  of  the  young 
must  often  close  their  eyes  to  the  actual,  and  dream  of  the 
star  that  shines  afar." 

"  Are  there  no  soothing  circumstances,  no  pleasures,  and  no 
worthy  rewards,  flowing  from  the  early  practice  ?  " 

"  When  the  novelty  of  the  situation  and  subject  wear  off, 
the  initiatory  business  is  not  particularly  pleasing.  It  does, 
indeed,  have  some  relief;  it  is  not  a  never- varying  gloom,  like 
the  circles  of  the  Inferno ;  for  you  will  sometimes  have  it  in 
your  power  to  redress  a  wrong ;  yet  to-morrow  you  may  be 
called  upon  to  change  sides,  and  defend  it.  Then  who,  for  the 
most  part,  are  the  clients  ?  A  really  high-minded  man  feels 
as  though  he  had  committed  a  blunder,  if,  by  any  means,  he  is 
compelled  to  seek  his  own  amid  the  mazes  of  courts.  There 
may  be,  and  I  know  that  there  are,  marked  exceptions  ;  but 
the  general  aspect  of  litigants,  even  in  the  civil  business,  —  to 
say  nothing  of  the  criminal,  —  does  not  come  up  to  the  average 
of  the  race.  And  when,  by  your  industry,  your  skill,  or  your 
good  fortune,  you  have  drawn  those  around  you,  they  not  only 
take  possession  of  your  ear  during  the  progress  of  the  trials, 
but  they  haunt  you  in  all  the  passages  of  the  halls  of  justice, 
follow  you  to  your  office,  to  your  house,  and  even  waylay  you 
at  the  corners  of  the  streets  ;  and  that  too  for  no  purpose  but 
to  ask,  "  What  do  ye  think  about  my  case,  'squire  ?  "  —  a  case 
that,  nine  times  in  ten,  has  had  all  needful  preparation,  and  to 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  157 

Which  the  party  has  been  fully  admitted ;  while  the  action  can 
not  be  reached  on  the  trial  list  in  three  days,  and  he  knows  it ; 
and  he  also  knows  that  your  attention  is  due  to  another  mat 
ter,  then  in  hand." 

"  Plow  little  do  we  understand,  or  see  even,  of  the  steeps 
and  perplexities  of  any  path  except  our  own  !  What  tapestry 
you  have  hung  in  the  temple  of  Themis  !  Yet  I  ought  to 
have  known,  for  I  see  that  it  must  be  grouped  with  the  con 
flicts  of  the  wayward,  the  wicked,  or  the  unforgiving.  Indeed, 
I  should  pity  you,  if  I  did  not  think  that  you  had  passed 
through  these  to  less  repulsive  scenes." 

"  Your  thought  is  almost  true,  in  fact ;  for  a  glance  back 
ward  is,  to  me,  a  sufficient  spur  to  press  on.  I  am  like  some 
lone  traveller,  who,  emerging  from  the  forest's  gloom,  begins  to 
feel  the  sun  that  warms  the  cultivated  plains  and  hill  sides, 
and,  in  the  distance,  beholds  habitations  into  which  he  may 
enter  to  find  peace,  and  comfort,  and  domestic  joy.  Yes,  let 
me  not  be  unjust  or  ungrateful;  there  were  alleviations  ;  there 
have  been  many  bright  hours  so  mingled  in  as  to  soften  the 
shadows ;  and  this  walk,  which  we  have  many  times  taken, 
shines  warmly  among  them." 

When  Park  paused,  Aurelia  did  not  make  an  assenting 
remark.  Indeed,  her  arm  rested  lighter  on  his,  because  in 
her  heart  she  hoped  that  he  would  declare  himself  further, 
and  feared,  if  she  spoke,  or  stirred  even,  that  it  might  inter 
rupt  or  lead  him  away.  But  he  misunderstood  her  listening 
silence  for  want  of  sympathy ;  and,  when  he  resumed  the  con 
versation,  the  feeling  had  vanished  with  the  subject ;  for  he 
said,  "I  return  to  that  which  should  more  interest  you.  I 
have  no  doubt  that  you  will  enjoy  your  pleasure  trip  very 
much,  as  a  great  variety  of  people  are  to  be  seen  in  the  places 
you  will  visit,  the  most  of  which  votaries  fancy  themselves 
accomplished  in  something,  and  no  doubt  are.  If  there  be 
14 


158  THE     M  US  TEE,     OR 

any,  on  exhibition,  who  have  poor  ideas,  they  may  have  proud 
horses  ;  and  a  drive  with  them  is  sometimes  as  desirable,  and 
it  may  be  as  exhilarating,  as  to  walk  with  Apollo  among  the 
flocks  of  Adrnetus.  You  will  also  meet  those  who  can  talk, 
with  some  who  excel  in  dancing ;  and  yet  more,  who,  in  many 
minor  ways,  may  help  to  amuse ;  while  well  nigh  all  of  them 
are  cunning  in  putting  on  apparel,  —  no  mean  or  trivial  ac 
complishment,  —  for  a  well-dressed  company  is,  to  me,  as 
pleasing  as  a  parterre  of  flowers ;  the  chief  fault  being,  it  soon 
cloys  in  the  drawing  room  as  in  the  garden ;  so  that  we  seek 
to  return  to  more  serious  and  dignified  nature  for  strength 
and  repose." 

"  You  speak  of  the  gay  world  as  though  you  had  passed 
your  life  in  its  precincts,  glancing  through  all  its  mazes." 

"  I  have  visited  there  occasionally ;  but  as  the  halls  are 
designed  only  for  momentary  attraction,  so  the  show  is  quickly 
exhausted,  if  one  is  disposed  to  think  within  its  glittering 
circles." 

"  You  make  me  regret  that  I  have  consented  to  go  there." 

"  Then  I  have  given  an  impression  which  I  did  not  intend 
to  give  ;  as  this  so  fascinating  appearance  is  one  of  those  that 
we  must  pass  through  before  we  can  be  entirely  free  of  them. 
For  this  reason,  if  my  wish  could  incline  you  to  choose,  you 
will  keep  the  way  that  you  have  chosen ;  as  there  are  many 
lessons  to  be  learned  there,  —  perhaps  more  rapidly  than  any 
where  else,  —  yet  it  is  to  be  graduated  from,  like  any  other 
place  of  learning ;  in  truth  only  folly  continues  on,  and  takes 
pride  from  the  slowness  of  its  acquirement,  and  the  length  of 
its  matriculation." 

"  Although  you  appear  to  approve  of  my  going  on  this  ex 
cursion,  still  your  words  make  the  summer  seem  long,  and 
divest  the  places  of  their  attraction  ;  so  that,  if  I  do  go,  I  fear 
I  shall  regret  it." 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  159 

"  Then  you  must  forgive  them,  and  call  to  mind  the  heat 
and  dust  of  the  city,  from  which  you  are  about  to  escape,  and 
take  into  view  that  the  places  where  you  are  to  shine  for  a 
season  are  points  of  observation  from  which  you  may  catch 
the  varying  aspects  of  surrounding  nature,  not  yet  all  tamed 
clown  to  use.  The  steep,  rising  hills,  far  sweeping  and  solemn, 
which  wait  there  to  meet  you,  are  still  kept  mysterious  by  the 
shadows  of  the  primeval  forest,  where  something  Druid  yet 
haunts  and  hallows  the  leafy  gloom.  There  you  will  behold 
mountains  also,  and  their  broken  ridges,  with  here  and  there  the 
frowning  face  of  a  bold,  precipitous  rock,  its  full,  antlered  front 
tossed  against  the  sky,  as  if  it  had  been,  that  instant,  pierced 
and  thrown  on  its  haunches  by  the  far-flying  shaft  of  some 
mighty  hunter ;  and,  high  over  these,  some  heaven-scaling 
Titans,  transfixed  for  their  audacity,  yet  so  great  in  their 
chains  as  to  keep  silence,  and  impose  it  on  the  gazer. 

"  There,  too,  you  will  see  many  a  sweet  valley,  refreshed  by 
the  tears  and  protected  by  the  limbs  of  those  giants  bound, 
with  cattle  amid  the  luxuriant  green,  or  standing  in  the  wind 
ing  streams ;  while  on  the  plats  the  mowers  swing  their  scythes 
in  the  grass,  (which  to  me  is  a  fascination;)  where  happy 
children  gather  strawberries,  or  playing  with  the  swaths, 
shake  them  to  the  sunshine  ;  and,  more  pleasing  still,  their 
white  and  smiling  homes,  hushed  in  the  sweet  bosoms  of 
orchards.  All  these  make  a  picture  which  is  taken  away  on 
no  canvas,  and  one  that  fills  the  mind  with  peace  and  tender 
ness  which  no  poet  has  sung.  But  these  you  will  find,  and 
more,  profusely  strown  along  most  of  the  line  of  your  journey ; 
and,  if  you  look  on  them  with  a  loving  heart,  they  will  keep 
you  and  teach  you  their- wisdom ;  indeed,  I  believe  that  you 
will  not  fail  to  see,  and  rejoice  in,  their  refreshing  and  inex 
haustible  sublimity  and  beauty." 

"  I  would  not  for  any  thing  miss  them ;  and  I  cannot  do  so, 


160  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

for  I  shall  be  looking  for  your  pictures  in  every  vale  and  hill ; 
they  appear  now  even,  in  vivid  distinctness,  on  the  distant 
verge  of  the  horizon." 

"  I  should  be  better  pleased  if  you  would  search  for,  and 
study,  those  which  differ  from  mine ;  and,  kindly  bearing  in 
mind  that  I  remain  within  the  city's  circle,  remember  to  re 
touch  them  for  me  when  you  return." 

"  Why  need  you  so  confine  yourself  here  ?  I  wish  you 
would  join  our  party  ;  and  I  do  not  see  why  you  cannot  meet 
us  for  a  little  time,  before  the  summer  has  quite  passed,  and 
lead  me  into  the  temple,  and  unfold  to  my  apprehension  the 
mysteries  of  nature." 

"  I  should  like  it ;  in  truth  I  am  inclined  to  do  so,  yet  I  know 
that,  if  I  make  the  attempt,  I  shall  see  before  me  the  stern 
gaze  and  the  restraining  hand  of  the  one  to  which  I  have 
vowed  myself  for  many  moons.  I  roamed  widely  over  the 
earth  at  one  time,  but  when  I  made  up  my  mind  to  look  for 
position  and  power  here,  I  resolved  that  I  would  be  lured  into 
no  other  chase,  until  I  had  made  them  secure.  The  hope  for 
full  communion  with  Nature  has  not  passed  away  ;  once  touched 
and  awakened  to  a  perception  of  her  beauty,  we  can  never 
forget,  or  become  indifferent ;  we  leave  her  presence  without 
fear  of  change,  and  return  as  to  a  desiring  bosom.  And  I  still 
cherish  her  features  with  affectionate  memories,  although  I 
hide  from  her  face.  Yet  even  here  I  am  not  quite  excluded 
from  her  charms,  as  my  office  gives  much  of  the  harbor  from 
its  windows  ;  and  a  glimpse  of  flashing  water  sends  them  to 
me  fresh  and  vigorous  from  the  Author  —  while  a  pleasant 
Sabbath  sunrise  leads  me  where  the  grateful  birds  pour  forth 
their  morning  joy.  And  not  in  vain,  for  she  soothes,  and  heals, 
and  continually  discloses  her  enticing  beauty  to  my  desires  ; 
making  each  succeeding  cloud-decked  sunset  seem  more  lovely 
than  the  last,  and  the  stars  move  intelligible  and  inspiring  — 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  161 

teachers  of  faith,  bright  messengers  from  the  heavens,  their 
beams  are  saying,  We  traverse  the  infinite  space  in  perfect 
•security;  despair  not  thou  of  the  safety  of  the  soul." 

"  You  make  the  visible  world  appear  the  most  glorious  of 
temples,  and  fill  it  with  the  song  of  your  praise.  Indeed,  love 
and  faith  are  religion,  penetrating,  or  rather  flowing  from,  all 
noble  natures  —  natures  which  the  whole  army  of  polemics 
and  dogmatists  cannot  intimidate  by  summons,  or  carry  by 
assault.  Yet  they  have  wronged  me  of  some  of  this  natural 
\vorship,  robbed  me  of  these  divine  smiles  of  which  you  so 
fondly  and  so  charmingly  speak,  by  their  leading,  by  their 
despairing  cry  of  '  Pantheism ! '  but,  heeding  it  no  more,  I 
shall  look  for  God  in  every  bush.  Still,  having  seen  so  little 
of  what  we  more  especially  call  nature,  I  feel  like  one  who, 
pent  within  dim  and  cloistered  walls,  hears  a  story  of  knights 
and  tournament,  and  the  wreath  which  beauty  braids  and  binds 
around  her  hero's  brow." 

"  It  is  in  such  a  spirit,  and  with  such  a  hope,  that  I  wish 
you  to  go  forth ;  for  then  you  will  drink  of  the  most  ancient 
and  sacred  wells,  and  may  return  whole  and  refreshed." 
Taking  her  hand  he  retained  it  a  moment,  when,  saying  fare 
well,  he  yielded  it  up  and  departed. 

Aurelia  ascended  to  her  chamber,  sad  arid  troubled ;  and, 
without  a  glance  at  the  mirror,  she  took  out  a  faded  rose,  the 
rose  that  was  Park's  first  gift  so  long  ago,  and,  reclining  on 
the  lounge,  mused  and  doubted  whether  he  still  kept  the  leaves 
and  flowers  which  she  had  given.  At  length  she  said,  with  a 
sigh,  "  No  !  men  do  not  preserve  such  things,  and  it  is  weak 
ness  in  us  to  do  so.  Ambition  takes  the  heart  of  the  gifted, 
and  bears  it  above  the,  region  of  flowers.  Yet  how  he  sees 
and  loves  nature  !  such  pictures  can  be  drawn  only  by  a  vivid 
imagination  from  a  full  heart  and  a  fine  understanding.  Ah ! 
did  he  so  love  me,  could  he  be  silent  ? " 
14* 


162  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

But  after  a  time,  having  thrown  off  her  bonnet,  she  rose  up, 
looked  in  the  mirror,  carefully  smoothed  down  a  stray  lock 
of  hair,  and  returning  the  flower  to  the  place  where  it  had 
so  long  been  treasured,  slowly  disrobed  to  seek  forgetfulness 
in  sleep. 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  163 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

The  secrets  only  to  be  told  by  fire 
Starry  or  beamless,  central  and  extreme, 
Burn  to  be  born.  FESTUS. 

IT  was  towards  the  last  of  July  that  Anthony  Featherstone, 
having  nearly  arrived  to  the  end  of  his  journey,  turned  aside 
to  visit  one  of  those  charming  places  of  summer  resort,  which, 
in  this  growing  country,  are  every  year  increasing  in  number 
or  beauty.  He  knew  that  many  of  his  familiar  acquaintance 
from  the  Crescent  City  were  there,  and,  a  votary  of  pleasure 
now  like  them,  he  hastened  to  participate  in  their  diversions. 

The  persons  with  whom  Aurelia  was  a  summer  guest  were 
also  passing  the  remainder  of  the  season  in  the  same  house  at 
which  Featherstone  alighted  ;  and  on  entering  the  parlor  after 
dinner,  he  recognized  Mrs.  Fardel,  the  cousin  of  Park,  and  re 
newing  the  acquaintance,  was  introduced  to  Miss  Vernon.  He 
was  not  aware  that  he  had  ever  seen  her  before,  and  could 
hardly  have  been  made  to  believe  it,  so  struck  was  he  with 
the  power  of  her  charms  ;  and  from  the  first  moment  he  de 
voted  himself  to  her  with  all  the  skill  of  an  experienced 
tactician. 

Soon  after  his  arrival,  he  was  invited  to  join  a  party  of  his 
southern  friends  at  table  ;  and  as  they  sat  over  their  wine,  he 
informed  them  that  Merton  was  dead,  and  that  he  inherited  ; 
upon  which  they  filled  their  glasses,  and  drank  a  bumper  to 
the  successor's  health  and  happiness.  This  news  was  caught 
up  and  borne  about  so  rapidly  that,  before  many  hours  had 
passed,  every  person  in  the  house  who  could  be  supposed  to 


164  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

take  any  interest  in  it  had  heard  that  Mr.  Featherstone,  the 
fine-looking  and  accomplished  gentleman  from  the  south,  was 
rich,  unmarried,  and  in  every  way  desirable. 

The  watering  place,  where  some  of  our  characters  had  as 
sembled,  was  one  of  that  class  which  are  planned  for  the 
amusement  of  vacant  minds  —  people  who,  if  they  do  not  abso 
lutely  hate,  have  a  very  mean  opinion  of  their  own  company, 
so  that  they  sigh  and  yawn,  from  mere  dulness,  when  alone ; 
people  who,  being  really  nothing  of  themselves,  feel  that  they 
must  go  somewhere  and  form  a  part  of  something.  As  the 
establishment  was  arranged,  more  especially  for  the  wants  of 
such,  every  hour  had  its  allotted  pastime  ;  they  drove,  they 
shot,  they  bowled,  they  bathed,  they  dressed,  and  they  dined, 
whereon  music's  voluptuous  strains  invited  to  the  twining 
dance,  stimulating  the  blood  and  blinding  the  heart  with  its 
wily  enchantment,  so  softly  poured,  so  brightly  hued,  that  it 
seemed  the  wine  of  the  gods.  The  rooms,  if  we  except  the 
public  ones,  were  so  small  and  warm  that  they  appeared  to 
frown  on  all  study  or  retirement. 

Still  the  place  evidently  had  some  powerful  attraction,  for 
it  had  drawn  the  rich  and  the  gay,  and  those  who  follow  in 
their  train,  from  great  distances,  and  in  such  numbers  that  the 
house  was  full  to  the  roof-tree. 

Aurelia,  like  so  many  others  in  the  innocence  of  a  first  visit, 
had  taken  some  books  with  her,  which  having  received  no 
attention,  they,  as  it  were  with  mortification,  had  crept  away  to 
the  very  bottom  of  her  trunk.  One,  however,  "  The  Princess," 
Park's  last  gift,  had  been  looked  carefully  through  for  marked 
passages ;  but  none  were  found,  which  making  her  too  sad  or 
too  thoughtful  to  read,  that  also  was  closed ;  and  at  length  it 
came  to  lie  undistinguished  among  the  others.  And  almost 
the  thoughts  of  former  days  had  gone  with  the  habits ;  for  her 
mode  of  life,  with  its  associations,  during  those  past  two  months, 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  165 

had  tended  to  fill  her  mind  with  the  shows  of  things,  obscuring 
things  themselves  —  she  being  part  of  an  exhibition  wherein 
the  accidents  of  fortune  were  first  in  esteem.  In  a  tourna 
ment  the  prowess  of  the  knights  make  glorious  the  hour ;  but 
this  place  rather  resembled  a  swift  and  exciting  race,  where  the 
horses  attract  more  attention  than  their  riders.  At  such  times, 
in  hearts  grown  sterile,  as  they  will  in  low  devotions,  a  pre 
tender  can  take  a  king's  honors,  and  even  paraphernalia  is 
bowed  down  to  in  a  kind  of  Fetichism. 

That  the  tone  of  Aurelia's  mind  had  greatly  fallen  since 
leaving  home,  was  quite  apparent ;  yet  it  was  in  full  accord 
with  the  place  and  her  companions.  She  might  recover  when 
she  returned  to  a  calmer  sphere ;  but  then  she  was  in  the  ma 
terial  and  of  it.  That  was  certainly  an  ungenial  round  for  her 
nature,  for  light  and  lively  were  the  hours,  with  no  frown  for 
any  thing  save  serious  and  soaring  thoughts. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  was  no  less  apparent  that  Feather- 
stone's  accomplishments  all  came  out  there,  as  though  it  were 
their  appropriate  place.  He  dressed  with  care  and  elegance ; 
he  was  a  skilful  waltzer,  a  bold  rider,  a  good  shot,  and  quick 
of  perception,  possessing  a  temperament  warm  and  impressible 
also,  with  vivacity  and  point  in  his  remarks  on  passing  things. 
Before  the  first  evening  was  over,  he  had  waltzed  with  the 
most  distinguished  ladies  in  the  company,  said  pleasing  things 
to  each,  and  if  to  some  he  spoke  with  such  warmth  as  made 
their  hearts  flutter,  he  was  kindly  excused  on  account  of  the 
fire  of  his  southern  blood  ;  if  one  of  the  more  experienced, 
however,  slightly  menaced  him  with  her  fan,  and  said,  "  I  am 
surprised,  Mr.  Featherstone  !  "  he  invited  her  to  ride  with  him, 
and  that  appeared  to  restore  her  confidence. 

Pie  did  not  notice  Aurelia  at  first,  although  he  entered  with 
alacrity  into  the  dance,  but  left  her  to  the  attentions  of  others, 
until  he  saw  by  her  manner  —  as  he  passed  her  with  his  arm 


166  THE    M  US  TEE,     OB 

half  encircling  his  partner  —  that  she  was  thinking  of  the 
omission,  she  being  too  studiedly  unobservant  of  his  presence. 
The  chaperon  also  had  similar  thoughts,  and  a  furtive  glance ; 
hence,  as  she  stood  by  Aurelia's  side,  and  saw  Featherstone 
lead  his  partner  to  a  seat,  linger  a  moment  near  her,  and  then, 
bowing,  turn  towards  them,  she  murmured,  "  The  new  star  is 
drawing  near." 

In  a  brief  time  Featherstone  joined  them,  and  engaging  in 
conversation  a  few  minutes,  at  length  he  prayed  for  the  pleas 
ure,  which  he  had  so  artfully  delayed,  in  phrase  and  tone  that 
gave  token  of  the  warmth  of  his  nature,  and  so  touched  Aure- 
lia  that  her  acceptance  was  in  accordant  form. 

"  You  must  be  very  fond  of  waltzing,  Mr.  Featherstone," 
said  Mrs.  Fardel,  "  as  I  believe  I  have  seen  you  with  nearly 
all  our  choice  young  ladies,  this  evening." 

"  O,  no ;  that  is  an  unkind  exaggeration.  And  Miss  Ver- 
non,"  he  continued,  turning  to  that  young  lady,  "  you  must  not 
listen  to  her,  for  I  have  only  danced  with  three  or  four  at 
most;  and  all  of  them  from  my  adopted  state  —  daughters  of 
gentlemen  who  deign  to  call  me  friend  ;  worthy  scions  of  fam 
ilies  whom  I  have  long  known  and  admired,  alike  for  their 
charms  and  their  characters." 

"  They  are  pleasing  persons,  and  very  rich  also,"  said  Mrs. 
Fardel. 

"  As  I  have  but  little  of  either  beauty,  or  grace,  or  accom 
plishment,  so  I  seek  their  presence  and  their  smile ;  but  the 
wealth,  if  it  ever  visited  my  thoughts,  has  ceased  to  be  among 
my  desires." 

"  Do  you  wish  me  to  praise  you  ?  "  inquired  Mrs.  Fardel 
with  a  smile. 

"  I  think  it  would  be  sweet  from  your  lips,"  he  replied, 
bowing. 

But  at  that  moment  the  notes  of  a  favorite  waltz  inviting, 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  167 

Featherstone  and  Aurelia  glided  into  its  charmed  circles,  and 
yielding  to  its  softly  whispered,  yet  most  glowing  language, 
were  soon  silently  and  thrillingly  listening  to  a  tale  more 
emotional  and  suggestive  than  words  may  hope  to  breathe  ; 
while,  in  their  united  grace  and  mastery,  they  fixed  the  gaze 
of  the  company,  for  they  moved  the  very  dream  of  motion, 
like  the  bright  rings  that  play  round  rocks  in  flowing  streams. 
At  length  the  music  ceasing,  he  led  her  to  the  side  of  Mrs. 
Fardel,  while  speaking  warmly  of  the  pleasure  she  had  be 
stowed  ;  and,  leaving  them  with  kindly  compliments,  he  dis 
appeared  for  the  night. 

On  the  next  day  he  took  his  southern  friend  to  ride,  and 
returning  late  in  the  evening  he  joined  the  company  in  the 
parlor,  though  only  for  a  short  time,  and  did  not  dance. 

So,  for  some  weeks,  he  played  his  part,  not  often  paying 
particular  attention  to  Aurelia,  yet  giving  the  moments  so  de 
voted  all  the  grace  and  attraction  of  which  he  was  capable. 
Assiduous  in  his  attentions  to  the  other  belles,  and  riding  with 
them  frequently,  he  did  not 'extend  the  invitation  to  her  until 
she  had  confidentially  remarked  on  it  to  Mrs.  Fardel,  who,  of 
course,  on  the  first  opportunity  made  allusion  to  it.  Still  he 
appeared  not  to  heed  it  for  some  days,  though  more  frequently 
in  conversation  with  them,  which  led  the  chaperon  to  speak  of 
a  delightful  drive  which  they  had  recently  taken,  when,  ap 
pealing  to  Miss  Vernon,  and  she  assenting  to  the  beauty  of  the 
scenery,  he  asked  the  favor  of  her  company  and  guidance. 

It  was  towards  evening  when  they  started  on  their  excursion, 
and  Featherstone  soon  entered  into  conversation  on  the  warmth 
and  luxuriance*  of  the  southern  clime,  and  of  the  princely  do 
mains  and  generous  hospitality  of  the  planter  —  themes  so 
captivating  to  an  imaginative  and  luxurious  nature,  and  into 
which  his  companion  passed  with  quick  sympathy,  so  that  be 
fore  they  returned  he  felt  that  she  liked  to  be  near  him.  Lin- 


168  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

gering  on  the  road,  the  evening  was  nearly  spent  when  they 
alighted,  and,  with  well-turned  thanks  and  expressions  of  re 
gard,  he  parted  with  her  and  retired  to  his  room. 

Miss  Vernon  soon  retired  also  ;  yet  lay  long  thinking  before 
she  slept,  and  even  after,  though  so  much  more  swiftly  and 
wonderfully  that  she  paused  not  to  reckon  with  time  and  space, 
but  oversoaring  the  present,  had  vision  of  the  future  in  what 
we  name  a  dream.  And  in  that  slumber  she  dreamed  that 
she  was  married.  To  whom  she  knew  not ;  yet  felt  that  the 
deed  was  done ;  for  around  her  were  the  evidences  of  the  at 
tending  ceremony,  and  some  still  lingering  guests  or  bride- 
maids  ;  to  those  she  appealed  and  entreated  for  information,  but 
they  turned  and  vanished.  Then  she  strained  her  eyes  to  see 
something  in  the  shrouding  darkness,  and  so  intense  was  the 
effort  that  she  caught  the  outline  of  a  form,  and  at  length  traced 
the  lineaments  of  Park  —  distant,  indeed,  and  not  advancing ; 
whereon,  after  long  waiting,  she  signed  to  him,  but  he  heeded 
it  not,  which  led  her  to  think  that  he  was  not  the  bridegroom. 
So  she  looked  again,  and  beheld  a  form  emerge  from  the  black 
ness,  and,  passing  by  Park,  come  towards  her.  Full  of  the  in- 
tensest  agitation,  she  sought  to  discover  the  face,  and  in  a  mo 
ment  she  saw  that  it  was  Featherstone's,  as,  smiling,  he  drew 
near  her  couch.  On  this  she  felt  an  impulse  to  shrink  back, 
to  raise  her  ami  in  resistance,  and  tried  to  call  Park  to  -her 
rescue ;  but  he  appeared  to  be  too  far  off  to  hear,  while  a  chill 
shuddered  through  her  veins  and  her  bosom  trembled.  Then 
she  heard  a  whisper  to  be  calm  and  put  away  her  fears,  and 
she  knew  it  to  be  her  mother's  voice.  Whereon  Fcatherstone 
murmured  some  tender  words,  and,  taking  her  hand,  leaned 
over  her,  when  his  breath  and  eyes  were  so  warm  that  they 
dispelled  the  chill  which  a  moment  before  had  seized  her ;  and 
still  drawing  nearer  and  nearer,  he  finally  pressed  his  lips  to 
hers  so  gently  that  she  did  not  wake. 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  169 

In  the  morning  it  flashed  forth  a  picture  of  the  memory ; 
and  one  so  vivid  that,  on  meeting  the  glance  of  Featherstone 
at  breakfast,  the  blood  mantled  her  cheek,  and  her  heart  shook 
with  the  fear  of  losing  its  secret.  And  when  he  joined  her  in 
the  parlor,  there  was  a  tenderness  in  her  manner  which  gave 
him  hope.  Is  it  thus  that  our  inclinations  make  our  fate ;  or 
is  there  some  mysterious  leading  that  dreams  should  be  so  sin 
gularly  in  favor  of  the  participant  ? 

Thereupon,  Featherstone  became  more  particular  and  more 
tender  in  his  attentions,  though  still  for  some  days  quite  as 
much  so  to  his  southern  friend. 

At  length  it  was  rumored  that  he  was  about  to  leave  the 
place  ;  and  in  the  evening  he  waltzed  with  a  number  of  the 
ladies,  and  finally  led  Miss  Vernon  to  the  floor.  Long  accus 
tomed  to  the  art,  and  attuned  to  the  music,  on  they  circled, 
tasting,  sipping,  quaffing  this  most  seductive  wine  even  to  in 
toxication  ;  so  that  when  they  paused,  and  he  led  her  through 
the  press,  she  clung  to  his  arm  as  if  she  could  never  more 
leave  it ;  so  much  will  the  wild  and  pliant  impulse  of  such 
moments  outrun  or  oversweep  discretion.  Passing  out  they 
walked  down  the  broad  piazza,  for  Aurelia  wished  for  air ; 
and  there,  while  to  its  fanning  breath  they  moved,  he  talked 
of  the  fairy  scene,  the  fascinations  of  the  place,  the  pleasure  of 
such  society,  and  how  her  presence  and  kindness  had  made  it 
an  enchanted  bower. 

"I  am  sensitive  to  the  charm  of  festal  splendor,"  she  re 
plied  ;  «  but  this  seems  full  of  attractions,  and  will  long  reign 
in  my  recollection." 

"  May  I  hope  to  be  kindly  remembered,  sometimes,  when 
you  call  it  to  mind  ?  "  he  tenderly  inquired. 

To  which  question  she  not  audibly  replying,  he  took  her 
consenting  hand ;  and,  turning,  they  moved  down  on  one  of 
the   many  shadowy  paths   together  —  moved  in  silence,  until 
15 


170  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

Featherstone  said,  "  Will  you  listen  to  one  who  can  no  longer 
refrain  while  he  speaks  of  love  ?  a  love  that  knows  no  future 
time,  but  cries,  now !  and  trusts  its  hope,  its  life,  on  a  word. 
I  have  wealth  ;  it  shall  lie  in  all  profusion  at  your  feet,  and 
bear  you  wherever  inclination  can  lead,  though  my  desire  will 
be  you,  only  you  !  amid  the  grandest  and  loveliest  scenes,  or 
in  the  presence  of  warmest  and  divinest  art." 

Aurelia  whispered  something  which  he  did  not  distinctly 
hear,  and  leaned  her  burning  brow  against  his  shoulder.  On 
this  Featherstone  bent  down  to  catch  the  accents ;  and  finding 
that  they  crowned  his  passion,  he  twined  his  arms  around  her, 
kissed  her  again  and  again,  and  breathed  into  her  ear,  as  with 
a  breath  of  fire,  how  deep,  how  undying  was  his  love  for  her. 
Yet  still  they  clung  and  murmured  in  the  shadowy  circles  of 
the  summer  night,  and  ate  the  lotos  to  the  song  of  the  sirens. 
When  at  length  she  roused  herself  and  whispered  that  she 
must  return,  they  clasped  hands  and  kissed,  and  finally  parted 
as  though  hope  went  out  with  vision. 

In  a  few  moments  after  they  had  separated,  Featherstone 
gained  his  usual  composure,  looked  carefully  to  his  apparel, 
rearranged  his  locks,  and  entered  the  parlor  as  though  nothing 
had  happened. 

Aurelia  sought  her  chamber,  and  did  not  descend  even  at 
her  usually  late  breakfast  hour.  Being  missed  from  the  ac 
customed  morning  promenade  on  the  piazza,  Mrs.  Fardel  went 
up  to  learn  the  cause ;  and  as  they  met,  she  perceived  that 
something  of  importance  had  occurred,  and  her  instincts -lead 
ing  her  to  the  right  conclusion,  she  exclaimed,  "  Well,  this  is 
funny  in  the  extreme  !  I  hope  that  it  does  not  make  you  very 
weak  to  have  a  lover,  or  quite  sick  to  have  an  offer%of  mar 
riage  ! " 

"  Do  not,  for  Heaven's  sake,  speak  so  loud,"  said  Aurelia  in 
a  suppressed  voice. 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  171 

"  Dear  me  !  I  hope  you  do  not  imagine  that  you  can  keep 
it  secret  here  ?  Such  a  thing  is  perfectly  impossible." 

"  I  wish  that  I  might,  even  after  marriage,  for  a  whole  year. 
There  is  something  coarse  in  making  public  proclamation  of 
that  which  seems  so  unspeakable." 

"  Nonsense  !  Come,  have  the  goodness  to  dress  and  de 
scend,  for  he  has  already  inquired,  and  so  kindly  that  it  induced 
me  to  seek  you  ;  and  if  you  do  not  make  your  appearance  soon, 
he  will  think  that  you  are  troubled  with  regrets.  But  permit 
me  to  recommend  that  you  leave  your  over-anxious  face  here, 
and  take  down  your  brightest  one.  Really,  if  I  were  to  judge 
from  your  confusion,  I  should  conclude  that  you  were  not  more 
than  sixteen." 

They  soon  after  descended ;  and,  Featherstone  joining  them, 
they  walked  out  to  take  the  air,  where  he  moved  beside  Aure- 
lia  with  complete  self-assurance,  and  covered  her  evident  em 
barrassment  and  agitated  feelings  with  easy  fluency  of  remark 
on  the  topics  of  the  hour.  Under  such  treatment  she  resumed 
something  of  her  natural  grace  of  manner  and  flow  of  speech, 
which  her  attentive  friend  perceiving,  she  excused  herself,  and 
glided  away  that  they  might  have  a  moment  alone  ;  for  Feath- 
erstone's  horses  were  at  the  door,  and  he  carried  a  whip  in  his 
hand.  When  Mrs.  Fardel  had  vanished,  the  lover  said,  "  I 
began  to  fear  that  I  should  not  see  you  this  morning,  as  I 
promised,  in  the  early  part  of  last  evening,  to  drive  out  one  of 
my  southern  friends ;  and  you  know  that  one  must  keep  his 
engagements." 

"  Certainly ;  I  desire  you  should  by  all  means,"  she  replied. 

On  this  Featherstone  smiled,  and  gave  her  so  warm  a  glance 
that  she  glowed  under  it ;  and  turning  away,  her  eye  caught, 
in  the  outline  of  a  passing  cloud,  the  features  of  Park.  And 
so  spectral  were  they  that  her  cheek  blanched  ;  yet  she  com 
pressed  her  lips,  for  the  intoxication  of  the  night  had  led  her 


172  THE     MUSTEE,     OR 

too  far  down  to  recede,  if  she  so  desired ;  but  she  had  other 
wise  determined. 

Park,  in  truth,  had  not  been  entirely  excluded  from  her 
thoughts  during  the  night,  for  deep  in  her  heart  he  had  im 
pressed  his  lineaments.  Yet  she  could  not  help  contrasting 
his  circumspection  with  the  ardor  of  Featherstone,  his  chas 
tened  tastes  with  the  glitter  and  garniture  of  fortune  —  the  god 
to  whom  her  mother  prayed,  and  towards  which  her  own  eyes 
were  not  infrequently  inclined.  Besides,  one  had  proposed 
and  the  other  had  not — indeed,  he  might  never  do  it;  so 
calmly  did  he  meet  and  part  from  her,  so  delicate  and  def 
erential  was  his  touch.  So  gentle  had  been  his  wooing,  also, 
compared  with  that  of  Featherstone,  that  she  began  to  doubt 
its  genuineness ;  that  it  was  intended  for  no  more  than  polite 
attention,  while  enjoying  mere  intellectual  intercourse  ;  such, 
at  least,  was  the  conclusion  to  which  she  came  before  she  slept. 

Then,  too,  Aurelia  thought  that  she  liked  Featherstone  well 
enough  to  marry  him.  She,  at  least,  had  been  deeply  moved 
by  him  ;  and  it  was  a  brilliant  offer,  not  likely  to  be  declined 
by  any  wise  person.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  she  saw 
him  not  as  he  really  was,  but  as  he  appeared  in  the  midst  of 
affluence,  and  courted  by  the  beautiful  and  accomplished; 
while,  in  intellect  and  bearing,  he  was  the  peer  of  any  man 
who  revolved  in  the  circle  of  gayety  where  she  encountered 
him.  And  let  it  also  be  remembered  that  he  was  one  of  those 
who  please  many  women, — if  it  surprise  the  gentlemen  who 
most  respect  them,  — for  he  had  that  kind  of  "animal  magnet 
ism  "  which  leads  to  matrimony,  not  by  the  lofty  and  chasten 
ing  steps  of  admiration,  but  by  the  impulse  and  inclination  of 
passion.  From  this  wild  influence  Aurelia  was  not  free ;  in 
truth  it  was  a  portion  of  her  inheritance,  and  had  something  of 
her  secret  thought,  and  at  times  seized  the  reins  and  swayed 
supreme.  Yet  there  was  that  in  her  nature  which  gave  it 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  173 

resistance  ;  hence  the  seclusion  of  the  morning,  and  her  em 
barrassment  on  meeting  Featherstone  ;  and  thence  the  ner 
vousness  which  had  conjured  up  the  apparition  of  Park,  and 
so  saddened  her  spirits  as  to  bring  tears  to  her  eyes. 

Seeing  the  change  that  came  over  her,  and  misinterpreting 
it,  he  said,  "  I  hope  you  are  not  jealous  ! "  On  which  she 
gave  him  a  look  that  made  him  inquire  in  a  less  confident 
tone,  "  Has  any  thing  happened  ?  "  and,  feeling  a  dread  that 
something  of  his  secret  history  might  have  reached  her  ear 
since  their  last  meeting,  he  appeared  like  a  culprit. 

This,  however,  she  did  not  observe,  as  her  eyes  were 
weighed  down  with  her  own  secret ;  and,  wishing  to  escape 
further  inquiry,  she  replied,  "  0,  it  is  nothing  —  some  slight 
affection  that  will  pass  away  with  a  little  exercise." 

"  Then  let  me  drive  you  out  this  morning ;  I  can  arrange  it." 

"  No,  I  thank  you  ;  I  choose  to  walk." 

"  May  I  hope  that  you  will  accompany  me  this  evening  ?  " 
he  urged. 

"If  it  be  your  pleasure  ;"  and  turning  down  a  shaded  path, 
—  while  Featherstone  retraced  his  steps  to  join  the  lady  who 
was  to  take  the  seat  beside  him,  —  in  a  few  moments  she  heard 
the  carriage  dash  away.  Threading  the  secluded  walk,  her 
agitation  increased  rather  than  diminished  ;  for  the  features 
of  the  landscape,  in  their  sunny  repose,  as  well  as  the  gentle 
caressings  of  the  morning  air,  reminded  her  of  Park.  And 
such  were  her  thoughts,  that,  could  he  have  met  her  and  ten 
derly  encouraged  her  long-cherished  hope,  were  it  necessary, 
she  would  have  fled  with  him  to  the  ends  of  the  earth — could 
she  but  have  seen  his  outstretched  hand,  she  would  have  clasped 
it  and  been  safe  ;  otherwise,  too  weak  for  self-sustaining,  she 
is  trembling  to  her  fall. 

Although  no  word  had  been  spoken  by  any  one  on  that 
morning,  concerning  the  engagement,  loud  enough  for  the 
15* 


174  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

most  expert  eavesdropper  to  have  heard,  while  in  all  com 
munications  the  strictest  secrecy  had  been  enjoined  and  most 
earnestly  promised,  yet  it  was  apparent,  from  every  glancing 
eye  of  the  guests  who  had  gathered  for  dinner,  that  the  event 
of  the  season  was  known  to  all ;  for  there 

"  Was  never  secret  history 
But  birds  did  tell  it  in  the  bowers." 

"When  the  ladies  had  withdrawn  from  table,  one  of  the 
friends  of  Featherstone  replenished  the  glasses,  and  lifting  the 
wine  to  his  lips,  said,  with  a  significant  glance  at  the  happy 
man,  "  Veni,  vidi,  vici" 

"  Very  good  !  "  said  one  of  the  group.  "  Capital,  capital ! " 
cried  another ;  while  a  third  set  down  his  glass  and  tapped  his 
thumb  nails  together  several  times,  with  an  air  that  seemed  to 
say,  "My  applause  is  the  crown."  On  which,  all  laughed; 
and  Featherstone  ordered  more  wine  —  a  seemingly  appropri 
ate  and  acceptable  acknowledgment  of  the  compliment.  As 
the  Madeira  circulated,  one  said,  "  When  may  we  expect  to 
receive  her  in  the  Crescent  ?  and  what  will  Anthony  do  with 
Cleopatra  ?  "  but,  observing  Featherstone's  brow  flush,  he  im 
mediately  added,  "  I  meant  no  offence,  by  Jove,  my  dear  fel 
low  !  It  was  only  a  spark  of  envy,  from  thinking  how  beauty 
seems  to  rise  to  your  lips,  like  the  beads  on  your  wine." 

Seein"1  that  his   delicate  associate  had  no  intention  other 

O 

than  to  compliment  him,  Featherstone  filled  the  glasses, 
and  said, — 

"  Here's  to  beauty,  young  beauty,  all  over  the  world !  " 

Tossing  off  their  wine,  they  poured  and  drank  again ;  and  one 
said,  as  he  set  down  his  glass,  "  That  was  devilish  good  ! " 

Whereupon  they  filled  afresh;  for,  a  little  confused,  they 
thought  the  praise  was  meant  for  the  wine  —  being  oblivious 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  175 

with  regard  to  the  poetical  sentiment.  In  this  way  they  soon 
finished  the  bottle  and  their  cigars,  and,  rising  up,  Feather- 
stone  went  to  prepare  for  the  drive  with  Aurelia. 

When  he  had  sufficiently  cooled  his  brow,  flavored  his 
breath,  and  carefully  arranged  his  dress,  he  ordered  his 
horses  to  the  door,  and  sent  a  messenger  to  Miss  Vernon. 
Completing  her  array,  she  descended,  and,  though  paler  than 
usual,  smiled  on  those  around,  while  approaching  the  carriage, 
as  if  she  were  about  to  ascend  the  throne  of  her  desire.  And 
having  taken  her  seat  with  studied  composure,  she  looked  at 
Featherstone  with  a  predetermined  expression,  as  he  placed 
himself  beside  her,  which  was  calculated  to  give  the  observer 
an  impression  of  fondness.  In  truth,  she  did  take  some  satis 
faction  in.  the  elegant  finish  of  the  "  turn  out,"  and  looked  with 
a  degree  of  pleasure  on  the  proud  steeds,  as  they  bounded 
away,  with  their  steel  harnesses  flashing  to  the  sun. 

If  Featherstone  had  entertained  doubts  in  the  morning,  he 
now  felt  reassured.  Yet  it  was  his  whim  to  avoid  conversa 
tion,  for  a  time,  unless  she  should  introduce  it.  So  feeling,  he 
put  his  horses  to  their  mettle,  for  three  or  four  miles,  over  the 
somewhat  rough,  wild,  and  wood-shadowed  road  which  it 
pleased  him  to  choose.  At  length,  in  the  thick  of  the  forest, 
he  slackened  out  the  ribbons,  and  speaking  soothingly  to  his 
foaming  coursers,  they  immediately  dropped  into  a  walk, 
hanging  their  heads'  low  to  relieve  the  pain  in  their  necks, 
champing  the  bits  to  ease  their  aching  jaws,  and  flirting  out 
their  muzzles  to  throw  off  the  slightest  pressure  of  the  reins. 

But  Aurelia  had  made  her  election.  And,  finding  oppor 
tunity  in  the  course  of  the  day,  Mrs.  Fardel  had  so  painted 
the  advantages  of  the  alliance  as  to  confirm  the  opinion. 
Hence  she  rose  superior  to  the  weakness  of  the  morning,  and 
set  her  will  on  carrying  out  the  contract,  and  that  too  as 
speedily  as  he  might  propose.  Thus  prepared  for  business, 


176  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

she  was  the  first  to  recur  to  the  scene  of  their  last  meeting. 
And  so  completely  had  she  gained  the  mastery  over  herself 
that  she  said  lightly,  even  playfully,  "  I  hope  that  you  enjoyed 
your  ride  this  morning  ?  " 

"  No.     I  was  thinking  too  much  of  you,"  he  replied. 

"  Did  that  destroy  your  pleasure  ?  "  she  smilingly  inquired. 

"  But  you  appeared  so  changed,  and  were  so  cold." 

Thereupon  she  told  him  that  she  had  had  much  to  think  of  in 
the  dissimilarity  of  their  situations.  This  led  her  to  speak  of 
the  circumstances  of  her  parents,  of  their  broken  fortunes,  and 
that  being  an  only  child  she  ought  not  to  be  far  divided  from 
them. 

To  this  —  being  anxious  to  remove  every  obstacle  in  the 
way  of  his  passion  —  he  replied,  "  I  have  no  wish  to  return 
to  the  south,  and  we  will  live  wherever  you  think  you  can  be 
happiest."  Thereupon  he  pleaded  for  immediate  union  with 
all  the  force  that  passion  could  infuse  into  the  phrases  of  love. 

At  length  it  was  concluded,  after  Aurelia  had  conferred 
with  her  protectress,  although  the  season  had  not  quite  closed, 
to  depart  for  the  city  within  three  or  four  clays  ;  and  Feather- 
stone  determined  to  leave  on  the  following  morning. 

As  he  was  about  to  say  adieu  to  Aurelia,  he  clasped  a  chain 
around  her  neck,  to  which  was  suspended  a  jewelled  cross,  flash 
ing  with  the  subduing  light  of  diamonds  and  rubies.  So  the 
cross  of  the  mustee  —  which,  it  will  be  remembered,  he  took 
from  tier  dressing  table  with  other  valuables,  on  the  morning 
of  his  departure  from  New  Orleans  —  came  again  into  use. 
Strange  change !  Has  it  the  power  to  calm  this  tumultuous 
heart  ?  Can  it  charm  away  thought,  or  erase  fond  recollec 
tion  from  this  glowing  breast  ?  And,  in  view  of  all  the  cir 
cumstances,  may  we  not  confidently  inquire  in  what  particular, 
either  in  the  splendors  of  the  mind,  or  in  purity  of  affection, 
has  it  been  exalted  ? 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  177 

In  the  morning,  as  Featherstone  was  departing,  Mrs.  Fardel 
appeared,  and  gently,  but  very  expressively,  accosting  him, 
said,  "  I  could  not  permit  you  to  leave  us  without  a  word  of 
congratulation." 

"  You  are  very  kind,"  he  warmly  replied ;  "  and  I  shall  re 
member  to  be  grateful  to  one  who  has  so  helped  me  haste  to 
the  wedding.  And  permit  me  to  hope  that  you  will  so  con 
tinue  your  good  offices  as  to  appear  at  the  time  indicated.  I 
shall  await  your  arrival  with  impatience." 

"  You  may  rest  assured  that  I  shall  do  what  I  can,  as  Au- 
relia  is  under  my  protection,  and  I  feel  a  deep  interest  in  her 
welfare.  She  needs  just  such  a  husband  as  I  am  sure  you 
will  make  —  one  who  can  take  her  into  society,  and  feel  proud 
of  the  admiration  she  receives ;  for  she  is  too  beautiful  and 
too  attractive  to  be  lost  in  mere  household  dulness  and  duty. 
So,  if  nothing  happens  to  prevent,  you  shall  see  us  at  the  time 
appointed  ;  indeed  I  like  to  lay  a  train  to  a  wedding,  for  '  mar 
riage  is  honorable.' "  Then  leaning  still  nearer  and  speaking 
lower,  she  added,  "  If  you  are  going  to  the  city  you  must  have 
a  care  of  yourself,  and  not  fight  my  cousin  Park  before  we 
get  there  to  take  charge  of  you.'* 

"  What  reason  have  you  for  such  a  caution  ?  "  he  inquired 
with  surprise. 

"  O  innocence  ! "  exclaimed  she.  "  As  if  you  did  not  know, 
you  naughty  man !  that  you  had  charmed  away  a  heart  from 
him.  But  I  do  not  care,  for  he  deserved  to  lose  it,  the  cold 
creature  !  I  have  not  the  least  mite  of  sympathy  for  him  — 
to  go  shilly-shallying  along  as  he  did,  thinking  that  she  could 
wait  forever  !  Now,  I  think  it  is  always  perfectly  ridiculous 
to  do  so,  and  I  see  that  there  is  more  sense  in  your  course  ; 
therefore  I  wish  you  joy." 


178  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

He  jests  at  scars  that  never  felt  a  wound. 

SHAKSPEARE. 

As  the  carriage  bore  Featherstone  away,  lie  thought  of  the 
caution  of  Mrs.  Fardel,  and  called  to  mind  the  incidents  of 
the  party  at  her  house,  and  Park's  attentions  to  Miss  Vernon 
on  that  occasion,  with  his  conversation  the  morning  after,  and 
felt  some  elation  on  thus  finding  that  he  had  at  length  carried 
off  one  prize  from  an  old  and  able  competitor. 

So,  taking  his  seat  in  the  cars,  he  went  on  restoring,  touch 
ing,  and  coloring  the  past,  bringing  out  the  dimly-seen  forms, 
regrouping  the  characters  in  the  foreground,  —  himself  in  the 
blaze  of  light  and  the  embrace  of  beauty,  —  and  at  length 
placed  the  picture  where  Vanity  might  gaze  upon  it  in  mo 
ments  of  leisure. 

Again  and  again,  in  the  course  of  his  journey,  he  turned  to 
look  on  the  canvas  with  a  kind  of  mischievous  satisfaction,  as 
he  felt  more  pleasure  in  gain  when  he  could  measure  it  by 
the  loss  of  another. 

He  had  also  that  coarseness  of  sentiment,  and  sense  of  en 
joyment  in  another's  mortification,  which  led  him  to  play  prac 
tical  jokes.  Hence,  as  a  part  of  his  accidental  triumph,  yet 
with  no  thought  of  seriously  wounding,  he  resolved  on  a  little 
amusement  with  his  friend,  whenever  he  should  find  oppor 
tunity. 

Entering  Park's  office  soon  after  his  arrival  in  the  city,  he 
was  received  kindly,  though  with  some  surprise  that  he  should 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  179 

come  on  so  late  in  the  season,  as  lie  said,  "  I  thought  that  you 
southern  gentlemen  generally  appeared  to  us  in  June." 

"  It  is  usual ;  and  it  was  not  my  intention  to  come  north  this 
year,  but  important  changes  came  to  alter  my  decision.  Mer- 
ton  has  died,  and  I  have  succeeded  to  a  condition  wherein  I 
can  afford  to  take  my  leisure." 

"  So  the  first  aim  has  proved  successful !  Yet  how  do  you 
propose  to  employ  your  leisure  ?  for  it  is  good  only  in  so  far 
as  it  gives  you  that  choice." 

"  I  think  I  shall  marry  by  way  of  beginning." 

"  Well,  if  love  leads,  I  hold  that  to  be  a  wise  course,  so 
soon  as  one  can  see  his  way  clear.  But  you  must  have  found 
something  very  sweet  to  lead  you  to  so  serious  a  step  !  Noth 
ing  less  than  a  sugar  estate,  I  fancy." 

"  Very  refined  !  Yet,  to  be  candid  with  you,  I  am  intend 
ing  to  espouse  that  Miss  Vernon  —  you  may  remember  her  — 
whom  we  met  at  your  cousin's,  Mrs.  Fardel's ;  and  I  shall  be 
pleased  to  see  you  at  the  wedding." 

"  You  are  very  thoughtful ;  and  I  will  try  to  be  one  of  the 
party." 

"  I  fancied  that  would  be  your  pleasure,  and  we  shall  be 
happy  to  welcome  you  on  the  joyous  occasion  —  so  you  may 
expect  due  notice  of  the  day  and  hour.  And,  by  the  way, 
how  is  the  widow  ?  " 

"  O,  she  is  blooming  and  obliging,  and  would  like  to  see 
you,  undoubtedly;  but  come  home  with  me  and  judge  for 
yourself." 

"  No,  you  must  dine  with  me  to-day,"  replied  Featherstone, 
smiling. 

And,  deferring  to  his  wish,  they  walked  out  together. 

"  How  soon  do  you  return  south  ?  "  inquired  Park,  as  they 
ascended  the  steps  of  the  Astor. 

"  That  is  uncertain.     It  is  a  point  which  I  have  yielded 


180  THE     MUSTEE,     OR 

to  the  inclination  of  another.  You  can  inquire  of  the 
lady." 

"  Shall  I  have  the  pleasure  of  her  company  at  dinner  ?  " 

"  Not  to-day,  but  in  the  course  of  two  or  three  weeks  she 
will  be  happy  to  meet  you." 

They  had  quite  a  social  repast,  touching,  however,  only  on 
the  surface  of  the  times,  as  befitted  the  place  and  crowd,  until 
the  company  in  their  immediate  neighborhood  had  departed, 
or  gathered  into  lively  groups,  when  Park,  filling  the  glasses, 
said,  "  We  will  drink,  if  you  please,  to  the  joy  of  Mrs.  Feath- 
erstone,  that  is  to  be." 

Featherstone  received  the  compliment  with  beck  and  smile, 
as  he  raised  his  glass,  and  seemed  to  have  peculiar  pleasure 
while  he  lingered  over  his  wine. 

In  a  few  moments  Featherstone,  having  replenished  the 
cups,  said,  "  We  will  drink  to  the  health  and  happiness  of  the 
beautiful  Miss  Vernon,  if  you  will  allow  me." 

On  this  Park  touched  his  lips  again  to  the  wine  and  said, 
"  I  think  the  lady  would  esteem  it  so  flattering  a  recollection 
that  I  may  venture  to  thank  you." 

"  You,  of  course,  know  best  how  she  would  accept  the  at 
tention,"  replied  Featherstone,  masking  his  countenance  with 
difficulty;  "yet,  when  you  again  meet,  you  may  say  that  I 
retain  a  vivid  impression  of  her  beauty,  and  hope  to  see  her 
married  soon,  and  her  husband,  that  is  to  be,  in  Congress." 

To  which  Park  replied,  "  It  will  give  me  pleasure  to  pre 
sent  your  compliments  when  I  have  an  opportunity.  But  the 
political  eminence,  of  which  you  speak,  I  am  not  likely  to 
reach." 

"  Why  not  ?     I  hear  of  your  triumphs  at  the  bar." 

"  The  way  in  which  it  is  usually  sought,  in  these  piping 
times,  is  not  suited  to  my  taste.  And,  were  I  elected,  I  should 
not  like  to  be  publicly  '  instructed '  in  statesmanship ;  for,  if 


LOVE  AND   LIBERTY:  181 

there  should  be  one  of  the  constituency  capable  of  instructing, 
he  would  be  entitled  to  the  place.  Yet  only  in  fearful  crises 
will  such  hereafter  reach  it ;  it  was  the  terrors  of  the  revolu 
tion  that  brought  out  and  elevated  the  giants  who  made  our 
senate  so  august.  Those  times  are  passed.  Still  the  slavery 
question  may  be  so  urged  as  to  shake  and  arouse  the  people 
to  a  recognition  of  their  true  leaders  once  more." 

"  Ah  !  have  you  turned  abolitionist  ?  "  inquired  Featherstone. 

"  I  love  liberty  and  desire  its  diffusion.  And  it  is  worthy 
of  observation  that  God  has  given  it  to  mankind  as  he  does 
food,  so  that,  if  it  be  justly  apportioned,  every  one  may  have 
all  he  can  truly  enjoy.  Hence,  whatever  of  these  is  taken 
from  one  class  in  a  state  not  only  leaves  them  to  suffer,  but 
makes  the  taker  licentious,  to  the  further  and  still  deeper  in 
jury  of  both." 

"  Do  you  intend  to  dissolve  the  Union  as  a  means  to  such  a 
result  ?  " 

"  I  strike  against  wrong,  however  fortified,"  Park  replied. 
"  If  the  constitution  does  not  foster  freedom,  it  is  not  what  the 
founders  of  the  government  intended,  and  not  what  the  great 
body  of  the  American  people  will  demand." 

"  Then  you  propose  to  destroy  that  incomparable  instrument 
which  gives  us  such  dignity  abroad  and  security  at  home  ?  " 

"  I  propose  to  inquire  if  it  be  not  the  will  of  the  majority  of 
the  American  people  to  have  whatever  is  doubtful  in  the  con 
stitution  construed  in  faVor  of  freedom.  And  I  propose  yet 
further,  if  there  be  any  thing  in  that  instrument  which  sanc 
tions  tyranny,  or  throws  a  shield  around  the  slavery  propa 
gandist  in  any  of  our  territory,  or  makes  the  men  of  the  free 
states  a  portion  of  the  police  to  enforce  the  local  laws  of  south 
ern  servitude,  to  do  all  that  lies  in  my  power  to  present  to  the 
country  the  necessity  of  taking  the  prescribed  steps  for  its 
amendment." 

16 


182  *    THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

"  If  you  succeed  in  striking  down  that  pillar  the  whole  fabric 
will  fall,  and  liberty  and  order  along  with  it,"  said  Feather- 
stone. 

"That  is  to  doubt  that  we  have  benefited  by  our  insti 
tutions  ;  it  is  to  deny  the  advancing  intelligence  of  the  people. 
If,  when  overthrown,  it  be  so  by  endeavoring  to  eradicate 
a  wrong,  I  have  no  fears  but  something  nobler  will  arise  on 
the  broad  basis  of  the  Declaration." 

"  Then,  in  a  certain  contingency,  you  would  side  with  the 
destructives !  Do  you  think  that  the  people  of  the  north,  and 
east,  and  west,  if  they  are  not  satisfied  with  the  interpretation 
of  the  constitution,  will  give  their  votes  to  change  it  ?  " 

"  Most  certainly.  Their  very  reverence  for  its  many  com 
manding  excellences  will  lead  them  to  remove  whatsoever 
dims  its  glory  or  endangers  its  perpetuity." 

"  When  do  you  expect  a  two  thirds  vote  in  Congress  to 
initiate  the  measure,  and  three  fourths  of  the  states  to  rat 
ify  it?" 

"  Not  soon.  Freedom  advances  slowly  ;  the  future  histo 
rian  may  count  ages  between  its  footprints ;  yet  the  goal  will 
be  reached.  From  darker  doubt,  through  deeper  perils,  the 
long  processions  of  our  ancestors  were  called  to  march  by  their 
indomitable  love  of  liberty,  until  they  made  the  British  consti-. 
tution  perfect  in  its  personal  protection.  The  planters  are  in 
the  position  of  the  feudal  lords,  yet  where  are  they  ?  " 

"I  care  nothing  for  what  may  happen  ages  hence.  I  go 
against  disturbance  now ;  for  the  south  will  not  submit  to  be 
instructed,  much  less  controlled,  by  any  other  portion  of  the 
Union,  however  strong.  They  will  sooner  withdraw  from  the 
compact,  peaceably  if  they  may,  forcibly  if  they  must.  They 
inherit  an  institution  of  the  fathers  more  tangible  than  any 
which  you  boast ;  therefore,  in  extremity,  it  will  be  more  des 
perately  defended." 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  183 

"  That  step,  if  successful,  can  yield  them  no  additional  secu 
rity,  for  a  dissolution  of  the  Union  will  not  relieve  them  from 
the  effect  of  eternal  laws.  Do  they  think  thus  to  escape 
from  the  operation  of  that  title  to  lands  which  underlies,  and 
eventually  overrides,  all  others,  namely,  that  he  shall  have 
who  can  best  occupy  ?  If  they  heap  dishonor  upon  labor,  do 
they  hope  to  gather  its  fruits  in  peace  ?  Is  it  possible  for 
them  to  bar  the  spirit  of  the  age  from  all  their  borders  ?  No, 
arm  as  they  may  against  these  subtle  forces,  there  can  be  no 
doubt  which  will  finally  prevail.  Yet  I  am  so  far  a  conserva 
tive  that  I  look  searchingly  at  change,  and  ask  for  the  most 
minute  and  mature  consideration  before  it  be  accepted.  But 
growth  will  continually  demand  it,  however  disturbing  or 
painful  may  be  the  process.  '  Before  the  eagle  can  have  a 
new  beak,'  says  Carlyle,  '  he  must  beat  off  the  old  upon  hard 
rocks.'  Hence  the  best  sign  of  the  times  is  the  dissatisfaction 
with  existing  constitutions  and  enactments,  however  Traffic 
may  deplore  it ;  and  he  who  doubts  this  may  fawn  on  the 
people  for  some  selfish  purpose,  but  has  no  faith  in  their  ca 
pacity  for  self-government,  and  no  desire  to  see  Liberty  make 
broader  the  arches  of  her  Temple." 

"  So  you  are  really  an  abolitionist !  However,  it  may  serve 
your  turn  in  a  local  way ;  but  for  any  place  in  the  general 
government,  you  might  as  well  be  a  native  of  Congo.  Do 
you  go  in  for  philanthropy  in  general  —  the  amelioration  of  the 
condition  of  criminals,  &c.  ?" 

"  I  believe  in  being  merciful ;  for  man  has  no  mercy  so 
tender  as  the  Infinite  Justice.  I  have  learned  that  kindness 
alone  can  win  its  way  tc  the  soul  and  elevate  it ;  all  sterner 
messengers  find  it  rock  and  leave  it  adamant.  If  this 
be  true,  —  and  no  observing  person  can  deny  it,  —  what 
change  must  come !  And,  in  view  of  it,  no  man  is  fit  to 
legislate  for  this  age,  or  the  coming  generations,  who  does 


184  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

not  feel  such  impulse  at  his  heart,  and  strive  to  give  it  organ 
ization." 

"  If  such  service  was  expected,  I  fancy  that  but  few  men 
would  seek  office,"  said  Featherstone,  laughing. 

"  Office  is  not  to  be  sought ;  the  purest  motives  cannot 
sanction  the  solicitation,  as  beggars  do  not  often  preserve  their 
self-respect." 

"  If  you  are  so  scrupulous  as  that,  I  may  stand  a  better 
chance,  if  Mrs.  Featherstone  should  persuade  me  to  remain 
here." 

This  recurrence  to  the  prospect  of  his  marriage  seemed  to 
fill  Featherstone  with  pleasure,  which  he  strove  to  conceal. 
Observing  it,  Park  pleaded  an  engagement,  and  in  a  few  mo 
ments  they  separated.  Yet,  while  walking  down  to  his  office, 
he  thought  of  the  mystery,  and  came  to  the  conclusion  that 
Featherstone  was  really  about  to  be  married,  as  he  could  think 
of  no  other  prospect  which  would  have  so  tickled  him  into 
continual  smiles  and  laughter. 

As  Park  moved  away,  Featherstone  turned  into  the  reading 
room,  still  hotly  smiling ;  and  taking  up  a  newspaper,  he 
looked  upon  it  and  laughed  audibly,  two  or  three  times,  which 
so  attracted  attention  that  he  tossed  it  away  and  went  out,  to 
more  freely  vent  the  fun  and  enjoy  the  joke. 

On  the  passage  down  the  river,  Aurelia  was  fitful ;  at  one 
moment  very  gay  and  then  seated  apart,  gazing  silently  into 
the  bubbling  water.  When,  however,  they  reached  the  pier, 
and  Featherstone  came  on  board,  she  received  him  so  cor 
dially  that  a  profound  observer  would  have  perceived  that  she 
was  playing  a  part.  Indeed,  when  she  finally  rose  up  from 
looking  on  the  fleeting  waves,  she  had  so  resolved ;  and  well 
did  she  cany  it  out,  in  the  presence  of  Featherstone.  In  this 
Mrs.  Fardel  ably  assisted  her,  as  she  had  persuaded  Aurelia 
to  remain  with  her  for  the  few  weeks  previous  to  her  marriage. 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  185 

The  neighbors  of  the  Vernons  were  surprised  one  morning, 
soon  after  the  foregoing  arrival,  to  see  the  windows  of  their 
mansion  all  open,  with  a  throng  of  painters  and  other  renova 
tors  busy  in  every  part.  Mrs.  Vernon,  too,  appeared  to  have 
awakened  as  from  years  of  sleep,  for  she  was  listening  to 
suggestions,  looking  at  plans,  and  giving  directions,  from 
morning  until  night,  and  seemed  to  gain  new  vigor  with  each 
succeeding  day. 

In  the  course  of  two  or  three  weeks  these  renewers  and 
decorators  disappeared,  and  the  furniture  began  to  arrive. 
During  those  days  the  family  that  lived  opposite  had  many 
callers,  who,  as  they  peered  through  the  closed  Venetian 
blinds,  and  saw  the  costly  cabinet  work  which  continued  to 
come,  aired  their  recollections  of  the  dark  and  dismal  house, 
which  for  years  they  had  known  it  to  be,  and  wondered,  and 
remarked,"  and  conjectured  in  this  wise,  "  Who,  do  you  sup 
pose,  has  bought  Aurelia  ?  " 

"  I  have  no  notion,  I'm  sure  ;  but  I'll  warrant  that  it  is  some 
man  old  enough  to  have  a  large  estate  and  a  short  lease  of  it." 

"  Do  see  what  lovely  things  he  is  giving  for  her ;  and  pay 
ing  in  advance  too  ! " 

These  shrewd  and  knowing  observers  were  aware  that  the 
daughter  was  their  most  valuable  possession ;  and  if  their 
tart  words  are  worth  little  as  a  judgment,  they  are  valuable  as 
an  unconscious,  and  therefore  a  true,  confession ;  for  when 
one  speaks  of  another,  it  is  of  the  nature  and  character  of  the 
person  speaking  that  we  are  likely  to  learn  most. 

The  old  gentleman  came  out  as  usual,  appearing  to  give 
little  heed  to  what  was  going  on  within  the  house.  Yet  the 
new  influence  had  not  only  reached,  but  penetrated  him  ;  PO 
that  he  appeared  more  fresh  and  bright ;  and  instead  of 
emerging  and  looking  out  furtively  from  the  back  passage,  he 
issued  from  the  front  door,  and  carried  his  gold-headed  cane 
16* 


186  THE    MUSTEE,    OB 

more  frequently  under  his  arm,  a?  if  he  were  growing  stronger 
day  by  day.  His  white  locks  —  he  had  not  jet  gone  to  the 
length  of  dyeing  his  hair  —  seemed  to  be  more  particularly 
cared  for ;  and  his  skin  was  deeper  colored,  whether  from  an 
increase  of  stimulants,  or  brighter  hopes,  or  both,  we  will  not 
pause  to  inquire,  as  it  was  a  pleasant  sight;  and  when  not 
wrung  from  the  heart  of  another,  or  in  any  way  too  dearly 
bought,  is  like  returning  sunshine  after  long  lingering  mist 
and  cloud. 

The  gazers  were  gfeally  surprised  at  Aurelia's  absence 
during  all  this  preparation  ;  and  the  mystery  deepened  and 
grew  august,  when  a  carriage,  with  driver  and  footman  in 
livery,  began  to  draw  up  before  the  door,  daily,  taking  Mrs. 
Vernon  out  alone,  to  return  alone. 

"  What  could  it  mean  ?  "  they  looked  and  asked. 

On  this,  some  of  those  who  had  expressed  themselves  the 
most  confidently  with  regard  to  the  matrimonial  sale,  com 
menced  to  "  hedge  "  their  opinions,  by  suggesting,  "  These 
Vernons  are  one  of  the  old  families,  and  a  great  many  of  the 
members  are  rich :  perhaps  some  one  has  died  and  left  them 
a  fortune." 

"  Yes  ;  or  pride  of  name  has  induced  them  to  contribute,  so 
as  to  keep  up  appearances,"  said  another. 

"  Ah,  that  is  not  probable,"  said  one  of  a  more  selfish 
turn.  "  It  is  far  more  likely  that  Mr.  Vernon  has  been  ap 
pointed  to  some  fat  office ;  and  now  that  I  think  of  it,  it 
appears  quite  possible,  as  he  has  devoted  his  time,  for  over 
twenty  years,  to  reading  the  newspapers,  which  are  the  teach 
ers  of  politics,  you  know.  You  may  depend  upon  it,  he  has 
got  hold  of  the  people's  money,  and  they  are  flourishing  away 
on  that.  Now,  there  was  Mr.  Overdrew  and  Mr.  Bezzlem, 
both  did  it ;  and  their  daughters  caught  rich  husbands  by  the 
game  —  so  now  they  live  at  their  ease.  I  declare  it  always 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  187 

makes  me  angry  when  any  thing  like  this  reminds  me  how 
we  had  to  contribute  to  it,  yet  were  never  so  much  as  invited 
to  the  parties  which  they  gave  in  consequence.  And,  what  is 
more  aggravating  than  all,  they  keep  up  the  same  style  now 
that  they  did  before  they  broke." 

"  Why  shouldn't  they,  when  they  prevented  any  thing  from 
running  out  which  their  creditors  could  lay  hand  on  ? "  said 
the  lady  of  the  house.  "  But  you  will  find,  if  these  Vernons 
have  got  hold  of  money  in  any  way,  that  the  lawyer  who 
used  to  walk  down  here  with  the  daughter  will  discontinue  his 
visits  ;  for  she  will  carry  her  case  to  a  higher  court.  It  is 
mysterious  enough  now,  certainly  ;  but  Aurelia  must  be  along 
in  a  few  days,  and  then  we  shall  learn  more  about  it  —  as  she 
will  surely  drop  straws  into  the  current,  so  that  we  can  see 
the  direction  in  which  it  is  setting.  As  for  the  mother,  she  is 
perfectly  impenetrable.  She  enters  and  alights  from  her 
carriage  in  a  way  that  would  lead  you  to  suppose  that  she  had 
practised  it  every  hour  of  her  life ;  and  wears  her  rich  ap 
parel,  and  reveals  as  little  curiosity,  as  she  would  had  the  ride 
never  been  interrupted  for  a  single  day." 

At  length,  under  the  directing  care  of  Mrs.  Vernon,  the  va 
rious  preparations  for  the  nuptials  had  been  made  ;  every  por 
tion  of  the  house  was  in  the  approved  order ;  no  trace  of  the 
past  remained.  Even  a  faded  rose  .had  been  shaken  out,  and 
swept  from  Aurelia's  room,  with  other  litter,  by  a  mother's 
order ;  and  if  the  mandrake  shriek  when  torn  from  the  earth, 
that  rose  might  well  sigh  for  the  one  who  had  so  long  cherished 
it ;  yet  its  plaintive  spirit  passed  unheeded,  for  her  ear  was  in 
clined  to  another  voice ;  and  though  her  heart  will  yet  catch 
and  echo  its  sad  tone,  it  may  then  be  too  late. 


188  THE    MUST  BE,     OB 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

All's  over  then  —  does  truth  sound  bitter, 

As  one  at  first  believes  ? 
Hark,  'tis  the  sparrow's  good-night  twitter 

About  your  cottage  eves ! 

BROWNING. 

FEATHERSTONE'S  business,  together  with  the  many  duties 
and  pleasures  incident  to  his  approaching  bridal,  so  occupied 
his  hours  that  he  had  not  see*,  sufficient  leisure  to  call  on 
Park,  had  he  so  wished,  since  the  day  on  which  they  had 
dined  together.  He,  indeed,  looked  in  on  the  widow  Sum 
mers  several  times  ;  but,  as  she  had  reasons  for  keeping  the 
visits  to  herself,  Park  did  not  hear  of  them.  Hence,  as  no 
circumstance  suggested  it,  it  had  not  entered  his  mind  for 
some  days,  that  Featherstone  might  be  still  in  town,  until,  one 
morning  about  a  fortnight  after  the  meeting  described,  he 
received  the  following  note,  enclosing  the  usual  card  for  such 
occasions. 

"  WEDNESDAY  MORNING. 

"  My  dear  Park  :  In  accordance  not  only  with  my  promise, 
but  my  earnest  wishes,  I  now  more  formally  invite  you  to  be 
present  at  my  wedding  ;  which  is  to  take  place  —  as  you  may 
see  by  the  enclosed  card  — on  this  day  week.  You,  of  course, 
must  not  fail  to  be  with  us,  for  Miss  Vernon  and  myself  will 
both  feel  that  we  have  lost  a  pleasure  if  you  do  not  grace  the 
gay  occasion  with  your  presence. 

"  Yours,  truly, 

"  A.  FEATHERSTONE." 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  189 

On  first  looking  at  this  missive,  Park  was  disposed  to  treat 
it  as  a  jest,  rude  and  rough  though  it  was  even  in  that  as 
pect  ;  but  he  soon  saw  that  to  be  altogether  too  profitless  a 
play  for  Featherstone  to  be  likely  to  engage  in.  Thereupon 
he  turned  the  card  over  two  or  three  times  and  scrutinized  it ; 
read  the  note  again  and  again,  and  cross-examined  it ;  and 
finally  folded  it  up  with  the  conviction  that  it  was  possible. 
Then,  leaning  his  brow  on  his  hand,  he  gazed  deep  and  long 
within  him ;  and  at  length  a  stern,  even  a  pale,  thought  came 
up,  and  spread  into  every  line  of  his  countenance,  as  if  he  wrere 
putting  on  some  fine  armor,  all  white  from  the  fire  of  his  spirit, 
to  meet  the  shock  of  an  advancing  foe. 

Soon  after  so  arming  himself,  he  was  under  the  necessity  of 
going  into  court  to  present  a  case  to  a  jury ;  and  never  before 
did  he  make  an  argument  so  clear,  so  cogent,  and  so  concise. 
There  was  no  ornament,  no  finishing  touch.  His  thoughts 
were  molten  and  moulded  into  terrible  missiles,  as  statues  of 
bronze  have  been  in  great  emergencies,  which  went  directly 
on  and  overwhelmed  whatever  he  chose  to  aim  at. 

As  Park  was  aware  that  it  was  about  the  time  for  Aurelia 
to  return,  he  had  walked  over  to  the  pier  on  two  or  three  pre 
vious  evenings,  in  season  to  meet  the  day  boats  down  the 
Hudson.  Yet  now,  when  night  came,  with  opportunity  for 
investigation,  he  did  not  turn  his  steps  in  that  direction, 
neither  did  he  go  down  the  quiet  street  which  led  by  her 
father's  house,  but  up  towards  his  cousin's,  where  he  had  first 
met  her,  and  with  whom  she  had  gone  forth  to  revel  in  sum 
mer  gayety. 

Drawing  near  the  mansion,  he  saw  that  it  was  open  ;  and 
moving  on,  he  soon  heard  voices,  and  those  so  lively  that  there 
seemed  to  be  guests  as  well  as  family  within.  Crossing  to  the 
opposite  side  of  the  street,  and  passing  by  slow  and  observant, 
in  a  moment  he  distinguished  Featherstone's  voice,  and,  there- 


190  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

upon,  the  gay  tones  of  Aurelia  in  reply ;  and  they  appeared 
to  him  gayer  than  ever.  Arrested  as  by  a  hand  dread  and 
resistless,  he  stood  and  heard,  not  the  words,  but  the  note  and 
accent,  until  the  conviction  came  home  to  his  understanding 
and  went  down  to  his  heart,  that  the  myrtle  wreath  which 
they  were  twining  would  be  the  crown  of  her  desire  —  that 
even  hope  looked  not  beyond  the  bridal. 

Well  nigh  stunned  by  the  truth  he  had  sought,  and  then 
shaken  by  conflicting  emotions,  he  at  length  curbed  his  bound 
ing  blood  and  calmed  his  throbbing  brain  so  as  to  think  and 
utter  to  himself,  "  Strange  infatuation  !  Yet  not  strange  !  only 
in  her  is  it  strange.  Ah,  how  far  she  must  have  fallen  !  for 
this  is  steep  down,  sheer  below  the  venture  of  my  imagination  ! 
There  are  beasts  which  manifest  a  purer  sentiment  than 
this  can  be,  and  one  that  will  not  wither  and  die  so  quickly. 
What  a  blinding  malady  is  passion !  O,  she  was  a  glorious 
creature !  capable  of  the  crowning  things,  both  in  the  realm 
of  thought  and  emotion  ;  and  capable  of  this  also  !  It  seems 
but  yesterday  when  I  walked  in  her  radiance  on  the  height  of 
life ;  and  now  she  has  gone  where  it  makes  my  brain  reel  to 
gaze  after  her !  What  is  love,  if  she  were  free  ?  yet  freely 
she  has  chosen,  and  making  choice  of  flesh,  I  can  leave  her 
to  Time,  who  will  strip  it  to  a  skeleton. 

"  Jfe,  indeed,  is  only  working  out  his  own  nature  —  a  nature 
that  had  no  entrance,  or  key,  to  any  secret  place  in  mine.  Yet 
he  calls  me  friend !  and  how  has  he  given  sign  of  it  ?  No  ! 
we  were  thrown  together  by  circumstances,  not  drawn  by  sym 
pathy  ;  and  have  kept  up  a  kind  of  companionship  which  was 
refreshing  to  neither  of  us,  but  had  a  tendency  to  harden  each. 
Hence  I  have  seldom  met  him  without  wearing  a  secret 
cuirass  ;  and,  standing  at  guard,  played  only  with  the  muscles 
of  the  mind  ;  yet  of  this  he  has  taken  advantage  to  thrust  at 
me !  Seeing  a  blasted  heath,  he  comes  to  '  palter  with  me  in 
a  double  sense ' ! " 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  191 

So  he  turned  firmly  away ;  although  his  thoughts  still  vis 
ited  their  presence,  as  he  continued,  u  Had  I  found  her  mute, 
sad,  or  reluctant,  I  would  have  contended  even  on  the  last  step 
of  the  altar;  but  she  prays  for  no  rescue  —  trembles  rather  at 
the  thought  of  interruption.  Well,  it  is  a  severe,  though  it 
may  be  a  salutary,  lesson ;  for  I  had  fondly  dreamed  that  I 
could  fill  one  heart,  and  many  sweet  tokens  whispered,  this  one ; 
but  I  see  now  that  they  were  only  light  and  deceptive  appear 
ances,  which  kindred  flesh  has  more  truly  interpreted.  Yet, 
after  all,  there  was  something  great,  as  well  as  captivating, 
about  her ;  she  was  capable  of  the  loftiest  moods  ;  the  spirit 
of  thought  could  take  her  into  regal  regions,  and  bear  her  up 
starry  spaces,  for  which  nature  has  given  him  neither  wing 
nor  inclination.  If  he  whistle  hqr  to  his  hand,  can  he  smooth 
her  pinions  to  the  perch,  or  hood  her  piercing  eye  ?  will  she 
not  soar  •  away  '  though  her  jesses  were  his  heart-strings '  ? 
Now  they  are  but  thoughtless  evening  revellers,  who  drink 
their  fill  to  awaken  to  a  dismal  day !  No  sweet  peace,  no 
ever-deepening  friendship,  can  spring  between  their  hearts  to 
twine  them  into  a  hallowed  retreat  from  the  world's  rude 
shocks.  Neither  will  their  flame  be  a  continuing  fire  on  the 
hearth,  ever  warm,  ever  cheerful.  I  can  look  on  its  fitful 
blaze  without  envy,  as  I  shall  yet  look  upon  the  ashes  without 
surprise." 

Thus  had  Park  —  though  with  a  lacerated  heart,  yet  one 
capable  of  applying  the  cautery  to  its  own  wounds  —  rea 
soned  himself  into  his  accustomed  calmness,  so  that  he  entered 
the  house  and  the  presence  of  the  widow,  with  no  visible  sign 
of  that  which  had  stirred  him  so  deeply. 

Taking  up  an  evening  paper,  he  seated  himself  near  the 
table,  where  Mrs.  Summers,  with  a  light-hued  dress  in  her 
lap,  was  looking  over  some  laces  ;  and  when  she  found  one 
which  was  sufficiently  long  or  short,  wide  or  narrow  enough, 


192  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

she  laid  it  on  to  some  particular  part  of  the  dress,  and  so  held 
them  up  to  see  what  the  effect  might  be. 

Park  observed  what  was  going  on  without  moving  his  eyes 
from  the  paper ;  so  he  inferred  that  she  had  been  invited  to 
the  wedding,  and  was  busy  with  preparation  for  the  event. 

At  length,  after  many  trials  of  different  varieties  of  trim 
ming,  while  holding  the  garment  in  many  views,  now  front, 
now  back,  and  in  changing  perspective,  she  said,  "  0  dear ! " 
and  dropped  the  parts  as  though  she  was  out  of  patience  in 
trying  to  make  them  take  elegant  and  pleasing  form. 

On  this  Park  looked  up,  and  appearing  for  the  first  time  to 
notice  her  occupation,  inquired,  "Are  you  preparing  to  be 
married,  Mrs.  Summers  ?  " 

"  I  think  of  going  to  a  wedding  ;  and  I  expect  to  have  a 
delightful  time,  if  I  can  ever  get  this  dress  to  suit  me." 

"  Is  the  bride,  that  is  to  be,  an  acquaintance  of  mine  ?  " 

"  Yes,  indeed,  and  a  very  particular  acquaintance,  too." 

"  As  there  are  so  few  who  bear  that  relation,  you  must 
mean  Miss  Vernon." 

"  I  do,"  she  answered,  while  her  keen  eye  searched  him,  but 
found  nothing. 

To  which  Park  carelessly  replied  as  he  turned  to  his  news 
paper,  "  I  supposed  that  to  be  an  old  story,  as  the  lover  in 
vited  me  some  twelve  or  fifteen  days  since." 

"  Has  Mr.  Featherstone  been  in  town  so  long  ? "  she  in 
quired  with  well-affected  surprise. 

"  Ay,  truly ;  I  think  that  I  dined  with  him  a  fortnight  ago 
to-day." 

"  What  a  strange  man  you  are,  Mr.  Park,  never  to  tell  me ! 
It  seems  so  odd  not  to  speak  of  that  which  could  do  no  harm 
to  any  one,  and  might  be  a  satisfaction  or  a  gratification  to 
many."  >  . 

"  Don't  you  think  secrecy  a  good  quality,  Mrs.  Summers  ?  " 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  193 

"Why,  what  do  you  mean,  Mr.  Park?" 

"  I  mean,  if  one  can  read  another,  would  you  like  to  have 
him  read  aloud  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  what  you  allude  to,"  said  she,  coloring ;  "  but 
you  have  made  a  mistake  once,  and  you  may  again." 

Park  smiled,  for  he  was  somewhat  amused  at  the  keenness 
of  the  retort,  yet  saw  no  reason  for  further  remark ;  while 
the  widow  thought  him  as  uninteresting  in  conversation,  as  he 
appeared  to  be  destitute  of  that  warmth  of  heart  which  she 
had  seen  in  Featherstone,  and  so  admired  in  any  one. 

At  length  the  evening  for  the  marriage  ceremony  came,  and 
the  widow  Summers,  dressed  very  becomingly,  —  thanks  to  her 
own  ingenuity,  —  had  been  set  down  punctual  to  the  moment, 
as  she  was  anxious  to  see  all.  She  hovered  very  near,  during 
the  ceremony,  and  on  the  first  opportunity  for  congratulations, 
she  said  very  softly  to  the  bride,  "  I  have  been  through  it  all, 
and  know  precisely  how  you  feel ;  but  you  controlled  your  feel 
ings  perfectly ;  there  was  not  the  slightest  agitation,  and  I  never 
saw  you  look  so  smiling  and  beautiful  before." 

Then  turning  to  one  of  the  bridemaids,  and  continuing  in 
the  $ame  half  whisper,  she  said,  "  How  fine-looking  Mr.  Feath 
erstone  is  !  and  how  perfectly  he  has  caught  your  southern 
manner,  which  is  so  captivating  !  I  wish  you  would  persuade 
him  to  wear  a  mustache,  it  gives  one  so  distinguished  an  air." 

"  They  do  give  a  peculiar  expression  ;  they  have  a  kind  of 
chivalrous  look,  and  make  one  think  of  knights  and  deeds  in 
arms." 

"  Yes,  indeed,"  said  the  widow ;  "  and  of  the  Turks,  and  of 
those  beautiful  creatures  who  come  from  Italy  to  play  and 
sing  the  operas.  And  he  would  be  quite  like  those,  if  he  only 
had  that  last  touch  ;  and  then  it  attracts  attention,  just  like  a 
flourish  under  a  name  on  a  subscription  list.  What  a  pity  that 
he  has  none  ! " 

17 


194  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

"They  are  very  easy  of  production,"  said  Featherstone, 
who  had  heard  many  of  her  words,  as  she  had  intended  them 
mostly  for  his  ear. 

"  What  if  I  object  ?  "  queried  Aurelia,  playfully. 

"  I  should  say  that  your  objection  came  too  late  to  be  part 
of  our  contract." 

"  But  in  so  trifling  a  thing  you  would  not  refuse  me." 

"  Trifling  things  are  not  to  be  insisted  upon,"  he  answered 
with  a  warm  smile,  yet  in  a  way  to  close  the  conversation. 

If  this  made  Aurelia  look  sad  for  an  instant,  she  quickly 
vibrated  to  merriment,  and  seemed  to  have  no  serious  thought. 

Mrs.  Summers  was  so  elated  with  the  attention  which  she 
had  received,  that  she  felt  like  patronizing  some  one  ;  and  see 
ing  a  lady  of  her  acquaintance  standing  alone,  she,  rather 
superfluously  it  might  be,  excused  herself  to  the  group,  and 
joining  her,  inquired,  after  the  usual  compliments  of  such  an 
evening,  "  Have  you  seen  the  beautiful  bridal  presents  ?  " 

"  No,  I  have  not ;  although  I  am  aware  that  they  are  get 
ting  to  be  the  chief  attraction  of  such  occasions." 

"  Well,"  said  the  widow,  putting  her  hand  within  the  arm 
of  her  friend,  "  you  must  go  with  me  and  feast  your  eyes. 
Do  you  know  Aurelia  ?  O,  yes,  I  remember  now,  you  do  : 
what  a  perfect  creature  !  and  she  is  a  particular  friend  of 
mine,  and  so  is  Mr.  Featherstone,  and  he  is  so  generous.  But 
they  are  all  generous ;  only  see  what  generous  friends  they 
have.  I  do  really  wish  that  it  had  been  the  custom  to  give  so 
when  we  were  married  —  don't  you  ?  " 

Her  companion,  who  was  rather  of  a  practical  turn,  replied, 
"They  are  pretty  costly  ventures  ;  and  I  have  no  doubt  that 
many  of  them  will  prove  to  be  gifts  or  losses,  which  in  this 
class  of  cases  is  the  same  thing.  But  can  you  tell  me  what 
they  intend  to  do  with  twenty  fish  trowels,  when  one  or  two 
are  quite  sufficient  for  housekeeping  ?  " 


LOVE     AND    LIBERTY.  195 

"  0,  I  noticed  that,  and  have  thought  it  all  over.  It  is  just 
as  I  should  like  to  have  it,  were  it  my  case  ;  for  no  one  will 
be  likely  to  feel  compelled  to  make  more  than  eighteen  or 
nineteen  wedding  presents  in  all  their  lives  !  So  they  can  do 
these  trowels  up  and  deal  them  out  as  occasion  may  require  ; 
and,  in  that  way,  they  will  get  every  thing  else  for  nothing." 

Here  their  attention-  was  diverted  to  the  company,  who, 
gathering  densely  in  the  parlors,  began  to  press  around  the 
plate  and  jewelry  tables,  where  they  lingered,  and  silently 
gazed,  as  if  dazzled  and  overawed ;  or  breathed  low-mur- 
mured  admiration  until  their  souls  seemed  small  and  dim 
beside  the  minutest  and  most  feeble  gem.  Never  did  golden 
calf  receive  more  true  and  heart-felt  worship.  Yet  how  few 
of  those  who  so  adored,  like  the  unselfish  daughters  of  Israel, 
would  have  devoted  their  trinkets  to  the  formation  of  their 
god  ! 

The  stillness  of  the  guests  during  the  ceremony,  and  the 
low  hum  and  measured  words  of  the  first  moments  of  recep 
tion,  had  heightened  into  mirthful  sounds  from  every  part  of 
the  large  and  well-filled  apartments.  The  tide  of  life  had 
ceased  to  flow  towards  the  bridal  group ;  and  Featherstone,  as 
there  was  nothing  which  absolutely  required  him  to  stand 
there  longer,  abdicated  his  station  to  meet  his  more  intimate 
associates  in  the  refreshment  room,  where  he  appeared  to  be 
relieved,  and  grew  bright  with  glad  exhilaration,  and  tarried 
long. 

The  bride  still  remained  on  the  spot  where  she  had  made 
her  vows.  And  although  her  beauty  was  so  perfect  of  outline 
that  even  regal  apparel  could  neither  lend  grace  nor  improve 
proportion,  yet,  like  the  evening  star,  she  seemed  more  lovely 
for  the  half-veiling  vapor.  If  there  was  a  slight  appearance 
of  tension  in  her  features,  if  her  lip  was  like  a  bow  partly 
drawn,  it  was  too  joyous  an  hour  for  any  one  to  analyze  for 


196  THE    M  U  S  T  E  E  ,     OR 

the  cause.  If  she  was  profuse  in  smiles,  few  saw  that  they 
were  almost  as  much  a  surface  quality  as  the  gleam  of  her 
gems,  and  none  suspected  that  her  lively  remarks  were  in 
tended  to  be  a  screen  rather  than  an  exhibition  of  her  heart. 
Little  as  she  had  heeded  it,  in  that  secret  place  there  was  a 
shadow  which  no  outward  light  could  allay,  and  no  turning 
away  of  the  ear  leave  its  whispers  unheard.  Such  a  visitant 
may  be  made  to  rest  from  troubling,  for  a  time ;  it  may  yield, 
for  a  season,  to  the  intoxications  of  life ;  but,  when  weariness 
comes,  it  will  arise  to  haunt  the  soul,  and  amid  woes,  however 
direful,  it  will  vindicate  its  preeminence. 

Beside  Aurelia  stood  one  of  her  maids  of  honor  —  a  crea 
ture  fair  and  young,  who  listened  to  the  vivacious  but  fitful 
conversation  of  the  bride  admiringly,  for  Nature  had  fashioned 
her  mind,  as  she  had  formed  her  person,  in  one  of  her  fondest 
moods.  As  they  stood  there,  near  each  other,  they  presented 
a  fine  contrast ;  one  seemed  a  garden  growth,  while  the  other 
had  the  characteristics,  and  something  of  the  timidity,  of  the 
forest  flower.  One  had  the  full  and  regular  form  of  the 
warm-odored  pine  tree,  which  we  select  and  place  for  orna 
ment,  while  the  other  was  more  like  a  whispering  birch  by 
the  brink  of  some  clear  and  sweetly-secluded  water.  They 
were  nearly  of  the  same  height  also ;  and,  judged  from  their 
outline  alone,  the  bride  appeared  much  the  stronger;  but  when 
you  saw  their  motions  and  their  glances,  you  would  learn  that 
one  might  bear  Diana's  bow  through  all  the  sylvan  scene, 
while  the  other  was  dreaming  with  Venus  in  her  bower.  In 
keeping  with  this,  the  eyes  of  one  had  the  hue  and  the  light 
of  morning ;  those  of  the  other,  the  darkness  of  night  and  the 
gleam  of  stars. 

At  length,  in  the  midst  of  their  conversation,  Park  ap 
peared.  He  had  considered  the  invitation  carefully,  even 
painfully,  and  came  to  the  conclusion  that  his  absence  would 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  197 

be  much  more  likely  to  cause  remark  than  his  presence  ;  and 
one  of  his  maxims  favored  the  course,  which  was  —  "  Look 
fate  in  the  face." 

He  was  dressed  in  black,  though  not  specially,  —  for  it  was 
the  only  color  in  which  he  felt  perfectly  at  ease,  —  and,  con 
trary  to  his  custom,  his  coat  was  buttoned  across  his  chest, 
as  if  feeling  the  necessity  of  a  shield,  and  making  more  ap 
parent  his  sword-like  form.  His  face  was  calm  and  impen 
etrable  as  marble;  yet  he  entered  with  the  feelings  of  one  who 
searches,  amid  the  murder  and  the  moan  of  the  battle  field, 
for  a  fallen  brother. 

It  was  some  relief,  as  he  crossed  the  apartment,  to  see  that 
Featherstone  was  not  with  the  bride  ;  for  he  had  shown  him 
self  coarse. and  callous,  to  say  the  least;  therefore  he  feared 
that  any  words  of  greeting  which  he  might  feel  compelled  to 
utter  to  him  would  be  but  a  half-subdued  echo  of  his  con 
tempt.  With  this  abatement  it  was  a  heavy  hour.  Yet,  bit 
ter  as  was  his  own  disappointment,  he  could  feel  some  pity  for 
the  bride  ;  for  he  knew  that  the  materials  of  the  marriage 
would  never  form  a  union  ;  that  the  deeper-thirst  of  her  na 
ture  could  not  be  long  satisfied  at  this  fountain,  however  it 
sparkled  now. 

As  he  caught  her  eye  he  had  a  glimpse  of  her  heart,  as  we 
behold  a  landscape  in  the  black  night  by  a  flash  of  lightning ; 
and  as  deeper  darkness  follows  thereon,  so  she  shrouded  it, 
for  the  moment ;  and  on  the  next  instant,  while  extending  her 
hand,  a  smile  spread  over  her  features  as  soft  as  the  light  of 
a  serene  heaven,  and  she  spoke  volubly  the  commonplaces  of 
the  hour. 

But  Park's  discovery  —  so   entirely  unlocked  for  then  — 

had  thrown  him  into  such  a  tumult  that  he  could  not  catch 

her  tone,  —  and  he  would  strike  no  other,  —  which  seeing,  she 

came  immediately  to  his  relief  by  saying,  "  It  gives  me  pleas- 

17* 


198 


ure,  Mr.  Park,  to  introduce  you  to  my  friend  Miss  McRae ; 
and  you  may  take  his  arm,  Annie,  to  the  refreshment  room, 
while  I  speak  to  my  mother." 

As  they  turned  away,  Park  felt  that  her  eye  was  on  him, 
and,  raising  his,  he  saw  its  deep  once  more  open,  with  a  vast 
space  which  seemed  vacant  and  lone,  yet  it  instantly  closed  as 
before. 

Walking  towards  the  refreshment  room,  Park  tried  to  think 
of  something  that  he  might  say  to  the  lady  who  accompanied 
him ;  but  his  thoughts  were  tumultuous,  and  would  follow 
only  Aurelia.  So  he  was  compelled  to  the  simplest  form, 
and  inquired,  "  Do  you  reside  in  the  city,  Miss  McRae  ?  " 

"  No,  I  do  not ;  though  only  so  far  out  as  Greenville." 

"Ah !  I  have  a  client  of  your  name  who  lives  in^  that  town." 

"  He  is  my  father ;  and  I  have  often  heard  him  speak  of 
you,  as  he  has  great  hope  that  you  may  gain  his  case." 

"  If  we  can  ever  get  to  trial,"  said  Park,  glad  to  take  refuge 
from  his  feelings  in  so  familiar  a  topic,  "  I  think  we  may  suc 
ceed." 

"  You  must  not  be  too  anxious  for  a  decision,  for  my  father 
has  busied  himself  with  it  so  long,  that,  when  it  shall  be  finally 
determined,  he  will  feel  that  his  occupation  is  gone ;  therefore 
I  give  you  full  liberty  to  continue,  and  continue,  to  the  ex 
tent  of  your  ingenuity." 

"  That,  in  many  cases,  would  be  a  valuable  privilege ;  but 
in  this,  as  my  fee,  for  the  most  part,  depends  on  success,  I  am 
somewhat  anxious  to  have  it  concluded ;  and  I  think  that  I 
must  go  out  there  soon  to  see  what  kind  of  territory  I  am 
about  to  own." 

"  My  father  will  be  pleased  to  see  you,  and  point  out  your 
domain.  I  walk  over  it,  with  him,  almost  every  pleasant  day ; 
and  while  he  searches  for  boundaries,  I  seek  for  berries  or 
nuts,  or  stand  silent  within  the  gothic  cathedral  of  the  woods." 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  199 

"  You  well  name  the  forest  thus,  having  felt  the  awe  that 
whispers  through  its  arches.  When  the  ancient  Germans 
gave  up  their  sylvan  worship,  they  shaped  the  rocks  of  God's 
house  into  the  form,  and  traced  them  to  the  semblance,  of  that 
first  temple ;  and  what  of  wildness  they  could  not  transfer,  was 
a  loss  of  solemnity ;  indeed,  no  work  of  man's  hands  can  give 
the  thrill  and  impressiveness  of  the  old  woods." 

"  Truly,  I  feel  that  to  be  so  ;  while  the  scream  of  a  jay,  or 
the  chirp  of  a  squirrel,  within  its  solemn  aisles,  stirs  me  deeper 
and  makes  me  more  thoughtful  than  any  note  of  organ  or  mel 
ody  of  chanting." 

They  soon  after  returned  to  the  parlors,  when  Park,  observ 
ing  Mrs.  Fardel,  left  Miss  McRae  with  a  group  of  friends  who 
had  gathered  around,  and  joined  her.  That  lady  looked  a 
little  disturbed  on  seeing  him  approach,  but  quickly  command 
ing  herself,  she  smilingly  alluded  to  the  interesting  occasion, 
and  said,  "  Brian,  you  are  getting  to  be  my  bachelor  cousin. 
I  should  think  that  this  would  remind  you  that  it  was  time  to 
turn  your  thoughts  on  the  subject  of  marriage.  Now,  if  you 
had  only  been  with  us  this  summer,  I  could  have  introduced 
you  to  two  beautiful  young  ladies  of  fortune ;  and,  really, 
I  wish  that  you  had  been  there,  for  I  know  you  would  have 
liked  either  one  of  them  well  enough  to  have  married  her  — 
and  I  have  not  the  slightest  doubt  but  that  I  could  have  ar 
ranged  it  nicely.  Indeed,  this  to-night  is  mostly  my  handi 
work  ;  and  isn't  it  a  triumph  for  Aurelia  ?  " 

"  Do  you  desire  my  opinion  in  relation  to  it  ? "  inquired 
Park,  in  a  warning  voice. 

"  Yes,  certainly ;  for.  you  cannot  but  think  it  brilliant,"  she 
replied,  though  with  a  startled  air. 

"  You  may  prepare  yourself,  then,  to  listen,  not  to  compli 
ment,  but  to  truth.  If  there  has  been  a  triumph,  it  was  over 
virtue ;  and  the  brilliancy  that  you  speak  of  is  a  consuming 


200  T  H  E 

flame.  The  world,  doubtless,  will  congratulate  her  on  the 
apparent  success ;  yet  she  seems  to  me  to  have  been  bitten 
by  a  tarantula ;  and  you  think  her  happy  because  you  see  the 
glowing  excitement  of  the  insane  dance ;  but  it  will  pass  soon 
—  pass  utterly ;  and  when  the  virus  has  done  its  final  work, 
the  friends  who  enticed  her  to  the  mournful  step  may  have 
an  opportunity  to  look  upon  the  consequences  of  their  folly." 

"  I  hope  you  do  not  think  that  I  did  it ! "  said  his  surprised 
cousin. 

"  I  believe  that  you  laid  claim  to  it  a  moment  since." 

"  I  did  ?     I'm  sure  I  meant  no  such  thing  ! " 

"  Why  do  you  seek  to  evade  a  confession  of  the  truth  ? 
You  are  a  mercenary  match-maker,  and  have  to  descend  only 
one  step  lower  to  earn  the  vilest  name  which  I  know." 

"  "What  is  that,  pray  ?  I  never  heard  any  one  talk  as  you 
do,  Brian,  in  all  my  life.  I  think  you  are  the  one  who  is 
insane  !  What  word  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Do  you  wish  to  hear  it  —  or  do  you  fear  it  ?  Yet,  in 
either  case,  I  shall  not  utter  it.  But  you  may  consult  the 
dictionary ;  and  permit  me  to  advise  you  not  to  pause  in  the 
search  until  you  think  that  you  have  found  the  worst." 

So  ending,  he  turned  and  left  her  with  a  theme  for  med 
itation. 

Seeing  that  some  persons  were  taking  leave,  Park  approached 
the  bridal  group ;  when,  hearing  Mrs.  Summers  say  to  Aurelia, 
"  I  believe  that  I  must  bid  you  good  night,"  he  immediately 
offered  her  his  arm,  —  for  he  saw  in  it  a  fine  opportunity  to 
make  his  escape,  —  which  she  accepted  with  evident  surprise 
and  pleasure ;  maintaining,  forever  after,  that  he  was  one  of 
the  most  polite  and  elegant  men  that  she  had  known,  or  seen, 
even  in  the  "  higher  circles." 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  201 


CHAPTER    XX. 

Drain  off  the  soul 

Of  human  joy ;  and  make  it  pain  to  live  — 
And  is  it  then  to  live  ?     When  such  friends  part, 
'Tis  the  survivor  dies.    My  heart,  no  more ! 

YOUNG. 

IN  the  course  of  the  day  on  which  Featherstone  left  his 
house  so  like  a  thief,  — I  say  so  like,  because  all  that  the  slave 
hath  belongs  by  law  to  the  master, —  Flora  went  up  to  the 
room,  and  seeing  a  newspaper  spread  out  over  her  dressing 
table,  she  took  it  up  and,  looking  upon  it,  her  eye  immediately 
fell  on  a  marked  passage  —  a  passage  relating  to  the  death  of 
Rufus  Merton.  Reading  it,  her  eyes  filled ;  not  on  account 
of  the  generous  and  appreciating  spirit  of  the  article,  but  in 
unison  with  the  thronging  recollections  which  flowed  through 
her  heart ;  not  one  of  which  but  was  either  grateful  or  ten 
der.  And  long  she  sat  and  wept,  thinking  of  that  lonely  suf 
ferer  so  far  away,  with  no  soothing  voice  to  revive  the  fading 
light  of  his  eye,  no  loving  hand  to  clasp  in  his,  as  he  hung 
over  the  steep  and  fearful  declivity. 

At  length,  recovering  something  of  her  usual  composure, 
she  cut  the  paragraph  from  the  paper,  and  having  made  it 
secure,  her  gaze  rested  a  moment  on  her  dressing  table ; 
when,  observing  some  disarrangement  there,  she  examined 
further,  and  finding  what  had  been  done,  came  to  the  conclu 
sion  that  Featherstone  had  gone  with  the  intention  of  returning 
no  more.  Over  this  she  fell  into  another  abyss  of  thought ; 
but  finally  ascended  from  it,  something  agitated,  yet  closing 
with  deep  satisfaction.  For  she  knew  the  fierce  determination 


202  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

of  Featherstone,  and  his  dogged  persistence ;  and  they  well 
nigh  dispelled  all  fears  of  any  further  molestation  from  that 
quarter,  which,  in  so  short  a  period,  had  put  on  horror's  shape  : 
whatever  else  might  come,  this  was  a  reprieve  for  which  she 
gave  sincere  and  glad  thanks  to  the  Father  of  mercies. 

So,  after  a  time,  she  went  down  to  the  sitting  room,  appar 
ently  calm  and  strong ;  and  there,  continuing  her  musing, 
Fred  came  softly  to  her  side,  and  looked  up  into  her  face 
inquiringly.  On  this  she  took  him  into  her  lap,  and  held  him 
long ;  the  while  frequently  pressing  him  to  her  heart,  and 
kissing  him  often,  being  scarce  willing  to  let  him  return  to 
his  play.  And,  when  she  loosed  him,  he  chose  to  remain 
away  but  a  moment ;  for  he  would  look  up  from  amid  his 
toys,  and  see  something  in  her  expression  that  drew  him  again 
to  her  side,  to  be  again  taken  to  her  bosom. 

It  was  not  long,  however,  before  he  fell  asleep  in  her  arms ; 
and  then  she  said  to  Madam,  "  I  think  Mr.  Merton "  —  for 
that  was  the  name  which  she  had  been  taught  to  call  him,  in 
stead  of  father  —  "  remains  abroad  a  long  time,  mother  ; 
did  he  contemplate  being  absent  for  such  a  period  when  he 
departed  ?  " 

"  My  dear  child,  I  have  no  expectation  of  seeing  him  while 
I  live,"  replied  Madam  ;  "  for  although  he  did  not  say  that  he 
should  return  no  more,  still,  from  the  many  ways  in  which 
intelligence  escapes,  I  had  little  hope  that  he  would  come  here 
again  ;  while  now  he  has  been  away  so  long  that  I  have  ceased 
to  watch  for  him.  Indeed,  when  we  parted,  I  felt  that  it  was 
final  ;  so  that  I  followed  him  to  the  door  feeling  each  dividing 
step  like  a  dying  groan  ;  and  if  I  ever  see  him  dead,  I  know  I 
shall  find  the  same  expression  on  his  countenance." 

"  Why  did  he  leave,  mother,  if  it  so  cut  him  to  the  heart  ?" 

"  He  had  some  trouble  preying  upon  him,  which  he  would 
not  disclose.  It  may  be  that  he  thought  our  way  of  life 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  203 

wrong,  and  went  forth  to  avoid  it  further.  That,  in  truth,  was 
what  I  suspected  for  a  long  time  ;  yet  his  sudden  and  singular 
departure  surprised  and  astonished  me." 

"  I  imagined,  long  ago,  that  it  was  something  more  than  a 
desire  to  see  foreign  lands,  something  stronger  than  the  ties 
of  business,"  said  Flora ;  "  for  I  knew  that  his  heart  was 
here,  as  I  never  heard  a  tone  from  him,  when  he  addressed 
you,  which  was  not  the  very  breath  of  love." 

"  Yes,  that  is  most  true  ;  no  coldness  or  doubt  ever  came 
to  divide  us ;  he  went  out  sorrowing  —  went  as  though  he  saw 
no  friendly-shining  light  beyond." 

"  Yet  he  may  have  found  peace,  mother ;  for  when  we  fol 
low  the  monitions  of  conscience,  the  sky  clears  and  the  heav 
ens  open." 

"  It  cheers  me  to  hear  you  speak  so,  my  daughter ;  for  I 
believe  that  you  have  strength  and  resolution  to  carry  out 
your  conviction,  let  it  lead  where  it  may ;  and  I  have  gathered 
consolation  to  myself  from  observing  it." 

"  lie,  too,  may  have  found  rest,"  suggested  Flora. 

"  Do  you  think  that  he  is  dead  ?  "  asked  Madam,  agitated ; 
for  it  had  looked  out  from  Flora's  countenance.  "  Have  you 
heard  any  thing  ?  " 

"  There  is  news  of  him,  from  Naples." 

"  Is  he  sick  —  is  he  suffering  ?  O,  I  would  have  followed 
him  through  all  the  world,  had  it  been  in  my  power.  Pray 
tell  me  what  you  have  heard." 

"  Dear  mother,  he  does  not  suffer  now." 

"  Then  he  is  surely  dead  !  O  that  I  should  be  so  severed 
from  him  —  would  that  I  might  have  died  for  him,  or  closed 
my  eyes  with  him  !  Can  those  who  so  loved  be  forever 
parted?" 

"  In  a  few  brief  years  —  years  necessary  for  healing  and 
preparation  —  He  who  placed  us  here  will  call  us  home." 


204  THE 


OR 


"  Yes,  it  can  be  but  a  little  time  ;  the  hour  is  not  distant." 

"Dear  mother,"  interposed  Flora,  "we  should  walk  this 
round  of  Time  with  a  firm  step  ;  and  the  thorns  which  grow 
there  and  pierce  us  will  let  out  life  when  it  is  better  to  die 
than  to  live.  My  path  also  appears  dark,  but  I  shall  not 
shrink  from  it,  for  I  know  that  the  Father  leads  me  ;  and  al 
though  that  path  seems  a  broken  curve,  from  the  clouds  which 
gather  around  and  obscure  it,  yet  I  have  faith  that  I  can  look 
back,  when  my  course  shall  be  closing,  and  see  a  perfect 
circle." 

"  I  hope  you  may,  my  daughter ;  and  it  relieves  some 
thing  of  the  heavy  weight  on  my  heart  to  know  that  you 
so  feel ;  but  I  grow  weak  under  it,  so  that  sorrow  is  rny  com 
panion." 

"  It  is  not  well,  mother,  to  be  continually  counting  the  beads 
of  woe  ;  you  should  rather  call  to  mind  how  many  among  us 
are  compelled  to  grope  and  toil  in  infinite  darkness  ;  while  we, 
by  favor  and  education,  can  lay  hold  of  the  thoughts  of  all  the 
wise,  and  soar  on  the  hopes  of  all  the  righteous." 

''  Do  you  call  that  a  blessing,  child,  which  gives  us  wings 
only  that  we  may  beat  them  to  bleeding  against  the  bars  of 
our  prison  ?  Could  I  have  struck  off  my  chains,  might  I  have 
reached  liberty,  do  you  think  that  thought,  or  hope,  could  have 
held  me  back  ?  No  ;  I  would  have  followed  him,  as  they  say 
the  seal  does  the  songs  of  the  sailors.  O,  had  I  been  so  fa 
vored  as  to  be  with  him  in  his  last  hours,  to  have  received  the 
last  light  of  his  eye,  the  last  sigh  of  his  love,  I  could  have 
returned  to  the  cotton  field,  or  the  cane  field,  and  handled  the 
implements  of  such  hot  and  exhausting  labor,  for  the  remain 
der  of  my  life,  as  though  they  had  been  the  dear  memorials 
of  his  unchanging  heart ;  but  this  sweet  and  holy  gift  of  na 
ture  has  been  taken  from  our  race,  to  make  my  heart  bleed 
always,  and  at  times  rise  up  in  wild  defiance." 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  205 

*•  But,  dear  mother,  that  terrible  bereavement,  you  know,  is 
at  an  end  now  by  the  will  of  Mr.  Merton." 

"  Such  provision  may  be  of  advantage  to  you,  Flora ;  but 
for  me  it  comes  too  late." 

"  Yet  you  have  told  me,  mother,  that  he  offered  you  free 
dom  long  ago  ! " 

"  True,  he  did ;  but  then  I  feared  that  it  would  be  separa 
tion  !  Do  you  think  I  could  so  much  as  look  at  it,  when  it  put 
on  that  aspect  ?  No  !  Were  it  the  world,  or  love,  can  you 
believe  that  I  would  have  paused,  for  an  instant,  to  try  them 
in  the  balance  ?  Why,  every  morning  since  his  departure  I 
have  long  looked  to  the  east,  but  have  seen  neither  waning 
star  nor  ascending  sun,  for  I  was  lost  in  him." 

"  I  have  seen  that  yours  was  a  deep  bereavement,  dear 
mother  ;  yet  we,  who  may  not  know  what  is  best  for  us,  should 
not  look  frowningly,  or  even  doubtfully,  on  the  irresistible 
current  which  sweeps  us  on.  It  is,  indeed,  hard  to  be  divided 
from  those  whom  we  love  ;  still,  they  are  strongest  who  walk 
alone,  for  all  great  achievement  is  the  growth  of  solitude." 

"  That  may  be  true  in  the  development  of  your  life,  but,  if 
it  ever  might  have  been  in  mine,  I  feel  it  now  to  be  too  late. 
I  am  like  a  vine,  that,  long  clinging  to  the  tree  which  gave  it 
most  generous  shelter  and  support,  suddenly  finds  it  prone  and 
uprooted ;  and  finds,  also,  every  tendril  of  its  nature  so  en 
twined  with  the  limbs  of  the  fallen,  that  it  feels  ashamed  of 
its  own  greenness,  while  the  leaves  of  the  other  are  sear  and 
departing  —  and  may  I  not  spurn  at  the  flexibility  which  still 
keeps  me  rooted  to  the  earth  ?  " 

"  Mother,  if  God  has  fixed  his  canon  against  self-slaughter, 
they  break  the  commandment  as  surely  who  nourish  a  wasting 
grief  as  they  who  strike  into  their  own  bosoms,  with  quick 
stroke,  the  gleaming  weapon  of  despair.  I  know  that  there 
may  be  instances  where  even  that  would  be  a  rightful  protection 
18 


206  THE    MUSTEE,     OR 

from  violence.  Roman  Lucretia  was  slow  with  the  dagger 
that  could  alone  have  saved  her  from  the  lust  of  Tarquin  ; 
still,  for  all  grief  over  separation,  or  the  grave,  there  is  nobler 
and  diviner  solace.  We,  indeed,  in  our  youthful  days,  believe 
that  only  in  another  can  we  find  sweet  happiness  and  con 
tinuing  joy  ;  yet  she  who  founds  on  any  other  rock,  than  that 
which  the  Creator  has  placed  beneath  each  individual  of  the 
myriad  race,  may  come  to  find  herself  an  intruder  or  an  out 
cast.  I  think  that  there  is  capacity,  in  every  rational  soul,  for 
a  charming  life  within  its  own  peculiar  realm  ;  and  the  more 
cultivated  it  is,  the  more  glorious  will  be  all  true  companion 
ship  ;  no  false  or  unkind  one  can  ever  make  it  desolate,  for  he 
will  be  closed  out  before  he  is  aware,  and  triple  brass  will  for 
ever  defy  his  return." 

"  I  am  proud  of  your  strength,  my  daughter,  and  when  I 
look  that  way  I  am  calm.  But,  when  I  retire  alone,  I  enter  a 
gloomy  cell,  relieved  only  by  a  faint  light  from  above  ;  long, 
long  have  its  walls  been  damp  and  cold,  and  now  it  seems 
drear  and  desolate.  O,  can  any  one  think  that  I  ought  to  con 
tinue  there  ?  " 

"  No,  not  there,  dear  mother ;  but  to  my  heart  you  should 
come,  and  live  for  me  and  my  child." 

"  0  Flora,  if  you  knew  how  much,  to  me,  you  resemble 
your  father,  you  would  not  desire  it ;  for  I  sit  and  fix  my 
eyes  on  you  until  I  seem  to  see  him ;  yet  no  tears  come, 
though  my  aching  heart  bleeds  over  this  haunting  spectre  of 
bereavement ;  and,  when  it  vanishes,  I  have  no  wish  but  to  fol 
low  it,  even  were  it  to  enter  the  grave  and  descend  to  torture ! " 

"  For  moments,  for  months  even,  I  can  conceive  of  one's 
being  so  lost  in  another  ;  but  for  a  lifetime,  that  is  the  fulness 
of  hope.  O,  what  must  that  man  be  who  so  takes  possession 
of  the  heart  and  bears  it,  as  did  Douglas  that  of  Bruce  towards 
the  Holy  Land." 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  207 

"  Mr.  Merton  came  to  my  side  when  I  saw  something  be 
fore  me,  glaring  on  me,  which  was  more  dreadful  than  death 
to  the  young  ;  and  he  pitied,  relieved,  and  loved  me.  Thence, 
for  twenty  years,  he  made  my  life  more  sweet  than  any  dream 
which  agitates  a  maiden's  bosom,  or  any  hope  that  genius 
feels  when  he  is  fashioning  his  thoughts  into  immortal  forms. 
I  would  not  exchange  even  the  memory  of  it  for  all  the  ex 
chequers  of  kings,  or  all  the  expectations  of  the  just.  I  know 
that  love  leaps  from  innumerable  thoughtless  lips  in  words, 
and  melts  away  in  kisses,  to  return  no  more.  But  bliss,  un 
speakable  and  unquenchable,  is  still  a  visitant  below ;  yet  it  is 
born  only  of  the  union  of  those  great  hearts  whose  affection  is 
so  full  and  perfect  that  it  forms  an  atmosphere  around  its  object 
as  elastic  as  the  air,  and  soft  and  warm  as  summer  sunshine." 

"  You  have  seen,  mother,  what  I  have  not  seen,  found  what 
I  have  not  found ;  yet  I  feel  that  I  have  acquired  strength  as  I 
advanced,  while  you  appear  to  have  lost  it.  Strange  is  the 
destiny  which  takes  each  of  us  by  the  hand,  and  leads  so  near, 
yet  so  diversely,  that  my  theories  weigh  nought  in  your  scale, 
as  your  experience  affords  no  clew  to  guide  me  on  my  way. 
Indeed,  if  we  reflect,  we  shall  find  that  we  can  have  but  little 
help  from  one  another  beyond  that  which  is  merely  tempo 
rary,  for  out  from  each  private  soul  does  the  chart  of  its  true 
course  unroll ;  while  the  Infinite  Father  hides  the  footprints 
of  his  children,  who  have  passed  over  this  strand  of  time,  and 
gone  out  on  the  unfathomable  deep,  as  effectually  and  as  wisely 
as  those  of  ships  upon  the  ocean.  It  seems  to  me  manifest 
that  he  has  appointed  to  each  one  of  us  a  particular  way,  with 
an  inclination  to  walk  therein ;  and  the  brave  will  keep  it,  let 
it  lead  where  it  may  ;  at  least  so  life  opens  on  my  vision." 

"  Such  views  are  not  for  me,"  said  Madam,  mournfully. 
"  I  cannot  reason  upon  my  loss  to  weigh  what  remains  j  nei 
ther  can  I  see  my  way,  for  my  light  has  gone  out." 


208  THE     MUSTEK,     OR 

"  Dear  mother,  all  I  meant  was  consolation." 
"  I  know  and  feel  it,  my  child,  but  when  I  look  for  it  I  can 
see  only  a  grave." 

So  flow  despondency's  dim  tears, 
Amid  the  ruins  of  our  years, 
When  the  loved  one  is  cold  and  low, 
And  in  the  clouds  no  beaming  bow 
Upbears  our  hope  to  where  appears 
The  inspiring  faith  of  bards  and  seers. 
If  death  more  tenderly  endears, 
Is  Love  so  blind  as  to  deplore 
The  parting  from  the  changeful  shore  ? 
Can  she  not  see,  within  the  mind, 
The  wings  for  deepest  heaven  designed, 
And  in  the  storm  that  darkens  o'er  her  day 
A  field  to  form  them  for  the  glorious  way  ? 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  209 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

Riches  are  oft  by  guilt  and  baseness  earned, 
Or  dealt  by  chance  to  shield  a  lucky  knave, 
Or  throw  a  cruel  sunshine  on  a  fool. 

ARMSTRONG. 

THE  levee  at  New  Orleans  presents  the  finest  view  of  a 
mart  of  commerce,  all  open  to  one  sweep  of  the  eye,  which 
the  trade  of  nations  has  created.  Over  all  that  vast  and  ex 
tended  border  of  the  city,  the  merchandise  and  the  manufac 
tures  which  have  arrived,  with  the  staples  and  produce  that 
are  going,  —  those  to  find  their  ways  to  the  heart  and  extremi 
ties  of  the  continent,  on  the  myriad  steamers  of  the  rivers  and 
bays  ;  and  these  to  go  down  to  the  gulf  in  ships,  thence  to 
thread  their  courses  over  all  the  globe,  —  give  this  strange 
town  in  the  water  an  attraction  which  once  drew  the  merchants 
to  Venice,  and,  crowning  her  with  riches,  helped  to  nourish 
that  gayety  which  still  sings  along  the  lagunes,  and  is  fast 
opening  into  vigor  and  splendor  here. 

Adventurers  from  a  wide  region  gather  to  this  city ;  and 
among  them  are  found  the  rude  and  ignorant,  as  well  as  the 
refined  and  polished:  to  the  number  New  England  contrib 
utes  many  a  shameful,  as  well  as  many  a  noble  specimen.  If 
you  step  into  the  low  rum  shops  to  see  who  poisons  and  plun 
ders  the  sailor,  alas  !  too  often  you  will  find  him  a  Yankee. 
Yet,  if  you  pass  over  to  the  ships,  you  may  mark  the  same 
pervading  and  persistent  race,  walking  their  quarter  decks  and 
filling  their  places  with  undisputed  preeminence. 

Bill  Frink,  the  proprietor  of  one  of  the  aforesaid  shops,  was 
18* 


210  THE    MUST  BE,     OR 

born  in  New  England,  in  a  family  which  had  been  reduced  to 
poverty  by  drunkenness.  So,  at  the  age  of  thirteen,  he  be 
came  a  bar  boy  in  the  village  tavern,  partly  out  of  pity  which 
the  landlord  felt  for  the  family,  but  mostly  to  work  out  a  debt 
which  his  father  owed  him  for  drink.  He  remained  there  until 
he  was  sixteen,  at  which  time  he  had  acquired  a  stock  of  knowl 
edge  and  of  experience  that  it  is  full  soon  at  twenty-five  to 
know,  if,  indeed,  it  must  be  known  at  all.  At  that  period, 
the  keeper  of  a  New  Orleans  saloon  saw  his  skill,  and  learning 
his  condition,  privately  engaged  him  to  go  out  and  mix  liquors 
in  his  bar. 

Bill's  parents  had  but  one  child  living  besides  himself — 
they  had  lost  many  from  want  and  exposure  —  when  he  left 
home,  according  to  his  agreement,  without  giving  due  notice. 
The  name  of  that  one  was  Joseph,  although  at  that  period  of 
his  life  Joe  was  the  extent  of  it  —  it  grew  afterwards.  Joe 
was  a  stubbed,  shock-headed  urchin,  of  five  years'  standing, 
who  could  and  would  spend  half  a  day  beside  a  mud  puddle 
stoning  a  frog  with  exulting  satisfaction. 

The  mother  of  these  hopefuls  had  so  hard  a  life  of  it  that  it 
was  difficult  to  tell  what  she  was,  or  might  have  been,  under 
less  depressing  circumstances.  As  it  was,  she  had  a  bewil 
dered  look,  as  though  she  sat  in  the  shadow  of  a  wilderness 
which  gave  no  outlet.  Yet,  in  the  midst  of  a  weary  struggle 
for  daily  bread,  which  was  not  always  successful,  she  tried 
hard  to  fix  Joe's  attention  on  the  Bible ;  and  continued,  through 
many  years,  to  read  portions  of  it  to  him  while  he  stuck  pins 
through  flies,  or  set  fire  to  the  flax  on  her  distaff;  for  he  at 
that  age,  and  indeed  long  after,  would  never  give  his  full  at 
tention  to  any  part,  except  to  the  account  of  the  plague  of 
frogs  in  Egypt ;  and  even  that  he  did  not  appear  to  enjoy  un 
less  he  was  allowed  to  grasp  a  stone  in  each  hand. 

The  drunken  father  roused  up  somewhat  after  Bill  disap- 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  211 

peared,  and  contrived,  by  a  little  extra  exertion,  to  steer  clear 
of  the  poorhouse,  although  he  drifted  around  in  full  sight  of 
that  port  on  the  lee  shore  of  life,  now  standing  off  and  now  on, 
with  tattered  sails,  and  half  swayed  up  at  that,  for  the  remain 
der  of  his  pilgrimage,  which  was  not  destined  to  be  patriarchal. 

Bill  continued  in  his  new  position  in  the  saloon  for  two 
years,  looking  sharply  about  him,  and  managing  to  save  all 
his  own  income,  with  part  of  his  employer's  also.  At  the  ex 
piration  of  that  term  he  took  a  small  shop,  fronting  on  the 
levee,  and  fitted  it  up  for  the  purpose  of  selling  liquor  on  his 
own  account.  It  was  not  a  striking  place,  except  in  a  bruis 
ing  sense;  indeed,  it  was  low, — for  it  is  more  than  twenty 
years  since  Bill  went  out  there,  —  having  two  rooms  on  the 
lower  floor,  with  nothing  over,  only  a  kind  of  garret  chamber, 
as  the  roof  alone  covered  it. 

In  this  place  Bill  sold  every  variety  of  liquor  which  was  in 
vogue,  or  inquired  after;  although  he  never  purchased  any 
kinds  but  pure  spirits  and  whiskey.  His  stock  was  all  native 
production,  except  a  few  drugs  and  dyewoods  which  he  ob 
tained  of  the  importers,  and  which  gave  color  to  the  statement 
that  his  rum,  gin,  wines,  and  brandy  were  all,  as  he  swore  they 
were,  from  foreign  ports,  and  were  the  choicest  that  could  be 
had.  This  shows  his  natural  aptitude  for  the  business  ;  and 
add  thereto  his  stock  of  jokes,  yarns,  and  anecdotes,  which  re 
tained  the  sailors  and  loafers  that  the  spirits  drew  there,  of 
course  he  prospered. 

As  Bill  got  money,  he  bought  slaves,  and  set  them  at  work 
on  the  levee,  lading  or  unlading  vessels,  and  fed  and  lodged 
them  in  the  chamber  of  his  store  —  the  only  entrance  to  which 
was  a  trap-door  opening  through  the  floor,  and  reached  by  a 
ladder,  which  he  took  away  at  night,  on  closing  the  shop,  ere 
he  turned  into  his  own  bunk  below. 

Continuing  to  increase  in  substance,  which  he,  in  common 


212  THE    MUSTEE,     OR 

with  so  many  others  of  the  ignorant,  thought  to  be  position 
and  distinction  also,  he  began  to  talk  to  his  gaping  or  boozy 
audience  on  politics  —  he  having  picked  up  a  few  cant  phrases 
and  hackneyed  expressions  from  the  "  stumpers."  Yet,  when 
he  had  dealt  those  out  with  particular  emphasis,  and  played 
the  part  of  parrot  to  his  party  newspaper,  he  generally  found 
himself  "  snagged,"  for  he  had  few  ideas  of  his  own,  —  how 
ever  native  to  him  might  be  a  narrow  vein  of  coarse  wit, — 
and  so,  with  an  oath,  he  would  end  off  in  this  wise :  "  Gen 
tlemen,  I  could  talk  on  them  p'ints  a  week,  if  I  on'y  had  words ; 
but  my  arely  edication  was  neglected.  Now,  if  they'd  on'y 
sent  me  to  college,  I'd  have  dead  beat  the  man  what  made  the 
universalist."  Bill's  education*  was  limited,  for  he  meant  the 
university. 

Bill  Frink  was  one  of  that  very  numerous  class  who  im 
agine  that  there  is  a  great  deal  more  in  education  than  there 
really  is  ;  inasmuch  as  it  never  yet  gave  an  idea,  and  never 
will.  It  can  only  give  forms  of  expression  ;  the  thought  to  be 
expressed  Nature  gives  ;  and  she  will  continue  to  be  the  be- 
stower  of  that  commodity  wherever  it  is  found.  He,  however, 
supposed  it  to  have  talismanic  power  ;  and,  consequently,  when 
he  felt  that  he  was  able,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  one  of  the  dea 
cons  of  the  church  in  his  native  village  containing  a  check  of 
value,  and  also  the  following  directions  :  "  I  want  you  to  catch 
my  brother  Joe,  and  dress  him  up,  and  send  him  to  school, 
and  have  him  put  right  through  in  tip-top  style  ;  for,  damn 
me,"  (I  quote  from  the  record,)  "  I,  Bill  Frink,  can  afford  it ! 
If  they've  got  any  thing  ag'in  havin'  poor  boys,  I'll  buy  their 
old  college,  or  burn  it !  damn  me  if  I  don't.  Now,  what  I 
want  o'  you  is,  to  see  as  how  he's  put  through  right,  and  you'll 
git  your  pay  for  the  job.  I  reckon  it's  high  time  somebody 
by  the  name  of  Frink  blowed  out ;  and  I'd  done  it  somehow 
if  I'd  had  half  a  chance  ;  but  I  s'pose  all  the  pews  war  jam 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  213 

full ;  at  any  rate,  I  warn't  warned  to  train  in  that  company ; 
if  they'd  on'y  done  it,  I'd  beat  the  man  what  made  the  col 
lege." 

In  virtue  of  these  instructions,  the  boy  Joe,  being  about 
eleven  years  of  age,  was  caught,  and  taken  away  from  the 
frogs,  from  stealing  birds'  eggs,  and  worrying  cats,  and  sent 
to  prepare  for  college.  He  was  not  troubled  with  home 
sickness.  Finding  much  better  food,  and  more  of  it,  than  he 
had  been  accustomed  to,  he  digested  well,  and  was  contented. 

Bill  continued  to  come  down  handsomely,  as  he  expressed 
it,  until  he  saw  Joe  settled  over  a  parish  —  although  he  was 
rather  knocked  aback  when  he  found  that  the  educated  Frink 
was  going  to  turn  out  nothing  but  a  minister.  He,  however, 
did  not  think  meanly  of  the  clerical  calling  in  all  particulars, 
as  he  was  in  the  habit  of  saying,  (Bill  was  an  observer,)  "  It 
is  the  surest  dodge  to  git  a  woman  as  is  rich  for  a  wife  that 
was  ever  scared  up ;  for  they  hover  round,  or  kneel  down  all 
along  on  the  track,  and  look  so  solemn,  tu,  all  the  time,  I  swow ! 
that  'tis  enough  to  make  a  feller  snort  right  out  in  meetin'  — 
'tis,  by  thunder  !  " 

The  deacon  had  given  Bill,  from  time  to  time,  very  satis 
factory  accounts  of  Joe's  studies  ;  for  he  was  pertinacious  and 
plodding,  and,  consequently,  took  fair  rank  as  a  scholar.  He 
liked,  also,  to  pick  over  the  cinders  and  sift  the  ashes  of  an 
cient  fires,  which  gave  him  the  notice  of  some  learned  doctors, 
who,  particularly  favoring  dry  subjects,  spoke  of  him  as  a 
promising  young  antiquary.  Pie  was  commended  by  some, 
too,  for  independence  ;  he  having  a  brusk  manner  to  the  com 
mon  people,  which  shallow  observers  so  name,  just  in  propor 
tion  to  its  rudeness  ;  but  this  was  in  his  nature  —  a  scar  of  his 
origin. 

I -ill  Frink  was  a  large  and  powerfully-made  man,  standing 
over  six  feet,  and  had  been  gradually  taking  on  flesh  for  some 


214  THE     M  US  TEE,     OR 

years ;  so  that  he  looked  to  weigh  two  hundred  and  fifty 
pounds.  Joe,  on  the  contrary,  was  short  —  which  may  be 
traced  to  the  leanness  of  the  larder  in  his  father's  house 
while  a  child,  or  to  the  tightness  of  his  clothes,  as  his  lower 
limbs  appeared  to  have  been  cramped  by  some  process.  While 
Bill  was  a  boy  there  was  a  more  ample  supply  of  cloth  and 
cookery. 

As  the  elder  brother  went  on  prospering  in  business  from 
year,  to  year,  he,  of  course,  increased  his  stock  of  whiskey  and 
negroes,  and  became  the  owner  of  the  estate  of  which,  in  the 
outset,  he  was  only  the  lessee.  He  raised  and  extended  the 
building,  also,  and  consequently  enlarged  his  scale  of  living ; 
and,  among  other  things,  purchased  a  shining  Congo  woman 
to  do  the  cooking,  or,  in  truth,  any  thing  which  he  might  desire 
her  to  do. 

Bill  aspired,  too,  in  other  ways,  affecting  style  and  leader 
ship  ;  and  although,  somehow,  he  could  never  keep  himself 
quite  clean,  particularly  his  big  red  hands  and  rosy  face,  as 
they  were  so  moist  that  they  caught  all  the  dust  which  came 
near,  yet  he  believed  in  his  charms ;  for  he  dressed  expen 
sively,  and  always  in  bright  colors  and  large  figures  ;  and 
wore  so  many  chams  and  rings  withal,  that  a  Californian 
might  have  found  "  good  diggings  "  almost  any  where  on  his 
person.  His  success  led  him  to  take  his  meals  at  one  of  the 
fashionable  hotels,  and  pass  most  of  the  evenings  in  places  of 
amusement,  and  much  of  the  night  in  the  saloons,  where  lie 
always  found  a  hearty  welcome ;  for  he  was  open-handed,  and 
when  he  "  treated,"  which  was  often,  he  invited  the  crowd ; 
and  he  meant  it  too  —  being  as  active  in  bringing  up  the  lag 
gards  to  the  line  of  the  bar  as  ever  Mr.  Hackett  was  in  form 
ing  his  militia  company  on  the  stage. 

At  the  time  when  Bill  Frink's  story  began  to  flow  into,  and 
mingle  with,  the  current  of  this  narrative,  his  gang  of  negroes 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  215 

were  about  to  discharge  the  cargo  of  a  vessel  belonging  to 
New  York,  and  late  from  Glasgow. 

Frank  Elery,  the  captain  of  the  ship,  was  a  native  of  the 
Old  Colony  ;  and,  though  still  a  young  man,  was  every  inch  a 
sailor.  With  square  shoulders,  full  chest,  slim  waist,  straight 
limbs,  and  nervous  temperament,  he  seemed  formed  both  for 
strength  and  activity ;  while  the  flash  of  his  eye,  when  aroused, 
was  like  a  gleaming  banner  to  lead  his  forces  on ;  and  nature 
and  habit  had  bestowed  on  him  the  full  port  of  command,  so 
that  he  could  govern  without  severity,  and  be  kind  without 
appearing  weak.  He  had  left'  school,  and  his  father's  house, 
at  sixteen  years  of  age,  —  leaving  in  the  minds  of  all  his 
mates  a  recollection  of  his  brightness,  kindness,  courage,  and 
scholarship,  —  to  become  a  child  of  the  ocean.  Drawn  away 
from  books,  and  the  professional  life  which  his  parents  had 
intended,  by  that  restless  longing  which  the  Sea  awakens  in 
those  whom  she  would  entice  to  her  bosom,  he  went  out  to 
enlarge  and  liberalize  his  views  in  the  observation  of  the  vari 
ous  and  opposite  forms  and  customs  of  many  people,  who,  it 
must  be  conceded,  are  striving,  as  best  they  may,  however 
imperfect  the  progress  or  doubtful  the  result,  to  come  into 
harmony  with  eternal  right. 

"When  Bill  Frink  went  down  to  go  on  board  Elery's  ship, 
with  his  gang,  for  the  purpose  of  breaking  bulk,  a  pair  of 
black,  long-eared,  powerfully -made  dogs  stood  in  the  gangway 
and  threatened  them,  and  seemed  to  be  especially  spiteful 
towards  the  negroes  ;  although  they  would  not  permit  Bill 
himself  to  pass  ;  for  the  crew  and  officers  were  all  at  their 
breakfast,  and  the  dogs,  of  course,  were  on  duty  as  ship- 
keepers. 

Hearing  the  music,  Captain  Elery  said  to  his  steward, 
"  Francis,  step  up  and  see  what  kind  of  game  Luff  and  Trim 
have  opened  on." 


216  THE     MUSTEE,     OR 

Returning,  the  steward  replied,  "  The  stevedore  and  his 
men,  sir,  are  here  to  discharge  the  ship  ;  but  the  dogs  won't 
let  'em  come  on  board,  sir." 

This  was  what  he  had  supposed ;  so,  having  finished  his 
coffee,  he  went  up  on  deck,  and  whistling  once,  it  laid  the  hair 
on  the  dogs,  and  drew  them  to  his  side  to  leap  up  with  more 
friendly  notes  ;  when,  gently  pulling  their  sleek  ears,  he  said, 
"  To  the  galley,  and  speak  for  your  breakfast ! "  At  this  they 
started  off  very  deliberately  for  the  designated  place,  and,  giv 
ing  one  bark,  were  admitted  by  the  cook,  and  paid  for  their 
watchful  care. 

As  Frink  came  over  the  ship's  side,  he  said,  "  I  reckon 
you've  got  some  smart  dogs,  captain." 

"  They  will  do  to  keep  meat  from  spoiling,"  said  Elery. 

"  I  guess  they'd  sooner  spile  meat  if  they  on'y  had  their 
own  way  about  it !  " 

"  0,  they  won't  hurt  you,"  said  the  captain,  smiling. 

"  In  course  not.  I  never  knew  a  man  to  say  any  thing  else 
of  a  dog  what  he  owned.  Now,  I'll  tell  you  what,  captain,  I'll 
bet  a  thousand  dollars  that  they'll  light  on  ary  one  of  my  nig 
gers  and  throttle  him,  at  the  word  l  Go ! '  and  we'll  settle  it  on 
the  spot  if  you'll  pay  for  the  boy  if  they  spile  him  —  I  will, 
by  thunder ! " 

"  As  that  would  be  no  great  sport  to  me,  I  think  I  shall  not 
try  it ;  although  I  will  engage  to  pay  all  damage  which  they 
may  do  your  men." 

"  O,  yes  ;  I  s'pose  they're  chained  up  by  about  now ! " 

"  They  are  lying  round  loose,  nights,  and  are  apt  to  hail 
every  thing  that  heaves  in  sight,  particularly  if  they  attempt 
to  cross  our  hawse." 

"  O,  I  know  by  the  looks  that  they're  dogs  as  is  dogs  ;  and 
I  like  'em  all  the  better  for  bein'  up  and  dressed  when  any 
body  calls.  Where'd  ye  raise  'em  ?  " 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  217 

"  They  were  raised  in  Scotland,  and  are  the  sharpestgscented 
breed  in  the  world." 

"  You  don't  say  so  !  What !  be  they  hunters  and  watchers 
tu  ? " 

"  Look  at  their  ears ;  the  heavier  those  are,  the  more  per 
fectly  they  exclude  sound,  and,  therefore,  the  more  cultivated 
and  keener  the  nose.  An  ancestor  of  these  dogs  hunted 
with  St.  Hubert ;  and  one  of  the  line  tracked  Wallace  into 
the  fastnesses  of  the  Highlands  ;  and  another  led  pursuers  on 
the  trail  of  Bruce." 

"  Whose  niggers  were  them,  I'd  like  to  know  ?  " 

"  They  were  not  negroes,  but  men  whom  tyrants  would  have 
bound  with  chains,  for  their  love  of  liberty,  and  bravely  daring 
to  struggle  for  its  blessings." 

"  Wai,  ye  see,  I  guessed  putty  clost,  if  I  didn't  know  but 
leetle  about  it.  Now,  I  reckon  you  must  had  putty  good 
schoolin' ;  but  I  hadn't  the  first  sprinklin'.  If  I  on'y  had  that, 
captain,  I'd  beat  the  man  what  made  the  college  —  I  would, 
by  thunder  !  But  I've  got  a  brother  that  ought  to  be  struck 
clean  through  with  it,  for  the  pickle  cost  me  enough,  any  now ; 
and  he  turned  preacher,  and  is  holding  forth  in  Greenville, 
right  near  York  ;  so  I  guess  as  how  you  must  know  him." 

"  I  may  have  seen  him,  as  I  have  been  in  the  town  several 
times ;  though  I  remember  hearing  that  one  of  their  min 
isters  had  gone  to  Europe." 

"  That's  him.  He  writ  to  me  that  he  could  do  it  without 
cost,  and  he  was  goin'  to  expose  the  winkin'  virgin  ;  and  I 
laughed  right  out  —  I  did,  by  thunder  !  to  think  he  was  goin' 
to  du  it  when  she  on'y  winked  !  But  you  don't  mean  to  tote 
them  dogs  to  sea  agin,  du  ye  ?  " 

"  I  thought  I  should  take  them  round  home,  and  have  a 
little  sport  in  hunting  foxes,  or  following  the  deer,  in  Plym 
outh  woods." 

19 


218  THE     M  US  TEE,    OR 

"  You^ll  find  it  too  hot  to  hunt  hounds  when  you  git  there  ; 
it'll  be  hissin'  hot  —  it  will,  by  thunder  !  So  you'd  better 
leave  'em  with  me,  and  when  you're  here  you  can  go  out  with 
'em  jist  as  ye  like.  I'll  keep  'em  in  shape." 

"  What  will  you  give  me  for  them  ?  " 

"  Give  !  now  ye  don't  ask  any  thing  for  dogs,  du  ye  ?  " 

"  Sometimes  ;  and  we  think  these  worth  a  trifle." 

"  Wai,  that  beats  me !  About  what  do  they  vally  at,  in 
cash  ?  " 

"  Seeing  it  is  to  you,  I  will  sell  them  for  fifty  dollars." 

"  Is  that  so  ?  Now,  by  thunder  !  you  don't  mean  any  sich 
money ! " 

"  Yes,  certainly ;  nothing  shorter." 

On  this,  Frink  drew  out  his  wallet,  and  taking  from  it  a 
fifty-dollar  note,  with  a  five,  also,  handed  them  over  to  the 
captain. 

But  Elery  was  evidently  taken  aback,  and  said,  "You 
do  not  intend  it,  do  you  ?  What !  pay  such  a  price  for 
dogs?" 

"  Yes  ;  that's  the  way  I  play  for  tricks." 

"  But  what  is  the  extra  five  for  ?  " 

"  For  them  collars  and  chains,  as  I  s'pose  you'd  like  to  sell 
the  tacklin'  with  the  pair ;  and  if  that's  not  middlin'  fair  for 
'em,  let  some  body  else  bid,  and  p'raps  I'll  raise  on  'em." 

"  O,  that  is  ample  ;  but  I  was  thinking  about  the  dogs,  for 
I  believe  that  I  have  got  attached  to  them ;  and,  although  you 
have  given  me  much  more  than  I  expected,  if  you  choose  to 
leave  them  you  may  now,  as  I  am  willing  to  sacrifice  some 
thing  to  liking." 

"  You're  mighty  careful  of  me  !  but,  the  fact  is,  I've  fell  in 
love  with  them  are  dogs  tu ;  and  when  that  disorder  fastens  to 
us  we  don't  care  what  we  pay  to  cure  it  —  we  don't,  by  thun 
der  !  I  know  I've  forked  over  rather  stout,  captain,  but  I 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  219 

guess  I  won't  take  any  on  it  back,  onless  you're  mighty  anx 
ious  about  it  ?  " 

"  I  see  that  you  are  drawing  out  to  windward  of  me,  and  I 
suppose  you  mean  to  keep  your  luff ;  so  all  I  can  ask  now  is, 
that  they  receive  good  care,  and  when  you  wish  to  part  with 
'em  let  me  know  it." 

"  I'll  do  that  clean  up  to  the  handle  —  but  what's  their 
names  ?  " 

"  We  call  them  Luff  and  Trim,  The  truth  is,  that  while 
we  were  becalmed  on  the  coast  of  Scotland,  they  chased  a 
buck  into  the  sea  which  we  shot ;  and  on  taking  it  into  the 
boat  they  whined  to  come  on  board  ;  and  having  the  wind 
heavy  on  the  beam,  the  next  day,  they  slid  across  deck  into 
the  lee  scuppers  so  often  that  the  sailors  called  on  them  to 
luff  and  trim,  to  fetch  out  —  and  the  names  have  stuck  to 
them." 

At  night,  when  they  struck  off  work,  Elery  loaned  Frink 
his  gun — for  hunting  dogs  readily  follow  that  instrument  — 
and  unchaining  the  bloodhounds,  placed  the  leashes  in  their 
owner's  hand.  But  they  divined  from  other  appearances  that 
it  was  something  more  than  a  chase  —  that  it  was  a  final  sepa 
ration  ;  and,  so  feeling,  they  turned  to  him  with  a  sadly  re 
proachful  expression  for  such  unkindness  ;  and  then  Luff  laid 
his  muzzle  in  Elery's  hand,  while  Trim  licked  it  in  emulous 
affection.  Yet,  as  they  were  his  no  more,  he  felt  compelled 
to  say,  "  Go,"  and  they  went  without  hesitation,  or  ever  a  look 
behind !  What  their  thoughts  were  we  may  not  know ;  but 
the  sailors  were  sorrowful  as  they  watched  their  going ;  and 
the  captain  felt  that  he  had  done  wrong,  in  doing  violence  to 
their  attachment  to  place  and  to  him  ;  for,  however*  fierce  their 
natures  were,  they  had  ever  strove  caressingly  for  his  pref 
erence,  and  knew  the  meaning  of  his  glance  by  the  instinct 
of  love. 


220  THE    M  US  TEE,    OE 

Some  few  days  after  the  discharge  of  the  cargo,  Captain 
Elery,  meeting  Frink  in  town,  inquired  how  he  liked  the  dogs. 

"  O,  they're  keen  as  a  knife  ;  I  hunted  with  'em  yesterday." 

"  Did  you  shoot  any  thing  before  them  ?  " 

"  No  ;  we  didn't  take  no  guns." 

"  What  did  they  follow  ?  did  you  find  out  ?  " 

"  Wai,  they  followed  one  of  my  niggers." 

"  Run  away,  I  suppose  ?  " 

"  No,  by  thunder  !  they  know  better  than  to  try  that ;  we 
turned  one  out  jist  to  larn  'em  a  lesson  in  the  higher  branches." 

"  How  did  they  work  ?  are  they  promising  scholars  ?  " 

"  They  performed  fust  rate  :  we  let  the  darkie  run  down 
into  the  swamp,  arter  tellin'  him,  when  he  heard  the  hounds,  to 
climb  a  tree.  So,  when  he  was  clean  out  o'  sight,  we  led  down 
the  dogs  and  put  'em  on  ;  and  they  took  the  scent  right  lively, 
and  went  whoopin'  on  the  track  into  the  swamp,  raisin'  music 
enough  for  a  country  muster,  they  did,  by  thunder !  and  right 
arter  that  we  heard  the  nigger  yell !  So  we  followed  like 
horses,  expectin'  to  find  him  laid  out  cold ;  but  he  was  in  a 
tree  arter  all  the  fuss  ;  though,  when  the  hounds  got  there,  he 
hadn't  clum  so  high  but  Trim  grabbed  him  by  the  heel  and 
tore  off  a  'spectable  piece.  Hows'ever,  there  'pears  to  be 
'nough  left  now  to  keep  him  from  fallin'  over  back'ards  when 
he  looks  up." 

"  Is  it  for  such  a  purpose  that  you  wanted  my  dogs  ?  Is 
that  the  kind  of  game  you  intend  that  they  shall  follow  ?  " 

"  We  s'all  let  'em  have  a  leetle  amusement,  in  that  are  line, 
once  in  a  while." 

"  Do  you  call  that  hunting  ?  are  you  such  a  devil  as  that  ? 
You've  got  the  bloody  heart  of  a  wolf,  if  that's  your  game  ; 
and,  if  you  follow  it,  you'll  be  pulled  down  and  torn  by  your 
own  dogs,  or  something  worse." 

"  What  hurt's  that  any  more'n  to  run  down  a  deer  ?     They 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  221 

ain't  human  ;  the  hounds  know  their  scent  from  our'n  as  quick 
as  they  do  a  bear's  !  That's  the  way  I  found  out  they  wan't 
our  kind.  And  our  doctors  say  it's  in  their  bones,  tu  ;  but  I 
don't  know  nothin'  about  that,  for,  you  see,  I've  no  edication  ; 
if  I  on'y  had  that  now,  they  wouldn't  be  nowhere.  If  I'd 
on'y  been  to  college  I  could  beat  half  the  Congress  men ;  I 
could,  by  thunder  !  " 

"  Certainly,  I  should  think  you  might,  judging  from  the  size 
of  your  fists." 

"  Damn  'em !  I  could  lick  'em  with  my  naked  tongue,  I 
know  I  could  ! "  - 

"  O,  I  have  no  doubt  of  it !  Yet  I  do  not  think  it  would  be 
in  good  taste ;  and  I  fancy  that  you  would  get  sick  of  it  before 
you  finished  the  undertaking,  if  those  whom  I  have  seen  are 
as  spotless  as  the  average." 

"  Wai,  you  reckon  as  how  I  could  du  it,  don't  ye  ?  " 

"  Yes,  most  certainly  !  I  have  an  idea  that  you  are  up  to 
any  thing  in  that  line." 

"  If  I'd  on'y  been  to  college  I  would  du  it ;  I  would,  by 
thunder ! " 

"  College  could  only  smooth  down  your  tongue,  and  make 
your  appetite  delicate  —  things  which  would  prevent  you  from 
doing  it  so  effectually." 

"  Now  don't,  captain ;  you  spread  it  on  a  leetle  tu  thick  ! 
but  you're  tip-top  ;  and  I'm  glad  to  see  somebody  who  can  un 
derstand  Bill  Frink,  and  has  some  notion  what  he  mought 
have  been,  if  he'd  on'y  gone  to  college.  Come,  let's  take  a 
drink." 

19* 


222  THE    M US TEE,    OR 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

Existence  may  be  borne,  and  the  deep  root 
Of  life  and  sufferance  make  its  firm  abode 
In  bare  and  desolated  bosoms  ;  mute 
The  camel  labors  with  the  heaviest  load, 
And  the  wolf  dies  in  silence. 

BYRON. 

THE  spring  was  fast  opening  in  that  southern  climate,  so 
that,  at  the  doors  of  all  the  places  of  entertainment,  in  the 
passages  of  the  courts  and  post  office,  and  on  the  corners  of 
the  streets,  innumerable  bunches  of  the  most  perfect  roses  met 
the  eyes,  and,  by  their  fragrance,  sweetly  solicited  the  atten 
tion  of  every  passenger  to  their  beauty,  during  all  those  tem 
perate  hours  when,  glancing  through  the  dew,  the  silver-footed 
Morn  appeared,  or  sapphire-sandalled  Evening  came. 

But  trade  began  to  grow  languid  under  the  heat  of  day ; 
and  the  waters  in  the  deep  gutters  were  taking  on  the  hue  of 
the  forest  foliage,  —  the  omj|pusly  unfolding  leaves  of  the 
pestilence,  —  warning  those  denizens,  who  take  their  annual 
flight  north,  to  prepare  for  migration. 

Among  that  number  was  William  Rutledge.  A  few  days 
previous  to  his  departure,  to  be  absent  for  the  summer,  some 
business  called  him  into  the  Probate  Court,  where  he  found 
Mr.  Steel  —  the  husband  of  the  late  Rufus  Merton's  sister  — 
making  application  for  letters  of  administration  on  the  deceased 
brother's  estate. 

Having  heard  his  motion,  Rutledge  said,  "  Although,  may  it 
please  the  court,  I  have  not  been  employed  to  appear  in  this 
matter,  yet  I  should  like  to  inquire  if  all  the  effects  and  papers 


LOVE     AND    LIBERTY.  223 

that  belonged  to  Mr.  Merton  have  been  received  from 
abroad." 

"  We  are  so  assured,"  Mr.  Steel  replied ;  "  and  they  have 
also  been  carefully  and  thoroughly  examined.  I  say  this,  be 
cause  the  gentleman  was  a  valued  friend  of  the  deceased, 
and  may  have  some  ground  to  suppose  that  there  should  be  a 
will  among  them  ;  but  no  such  document  has  been  found." 

"  It  was  that  of  which  I  was  thinking,"  said  Rutledge,  ad 
dressing  the  court ;  "  for  I  have  reason  to  say  that  he  once 
gave  effect  to  such  an  instrument ;  and,  as  it  can  operate  no 
serious  delay,  I  ask  that  a  few  days  be  granted  for  further 
search  elsewhere." 

"  I,  certainly,  have  no  objections,"  replied  Mr.  Steel,  "  if 
the  court  so  direct." 

"  Then  it  may  be  passed  now,"  said  the  judge,  "  and  taken 
up  the  first  thing  next  week,  if  you  are  so  disposed,  gen 
tlemen." 

To  this  proposal  they  expressed  assent,  and  left  the  court 
together. 

On  reaching  the  street,  Rutledge  inquired,  "  When  did  Mr. 
Merton's  papers  arrive,  Mr.  Steel  ?  " 

"  Only  four  or  five  days  since,"  he  replied. 

"  Was  there  any  writing  of  his  that  you  found,  which  could 
throw  any  light  on  his  condition  or  his  desires,  or  disclose  if 
he  had  any  anticipations  that  he  was  near  his  end  ?  " 

"  No,  not  a  single  line  or  word  !  There  was  nothing  for  a 
memento  even,  except  some  hair,  —  a  long,  black,  glossy  tress  " 
(it  was  Madam's,)  —  "  which  Mrs.  Steel  thought,  indeed  was- 
quite  certain,  must  be  a  lock  of  their  cousin's,  a  lady  whom  he 
once  loved ;  and  she  is  having  it  set  in  brooches  for  herself 
and  daughters,  as  she  wishes  that  some  token  of  mourning 
should  be  worn." 

In  the  course  of  the  following  evening  Rutledge  called  at 


224  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

the  house  where  Merton  had  so  long  lived,  and  where  he  him 
self  had  so  many  times  been  received  and  entertained  so 
kindly.  He  found  Madam  and  Flora  very  glad  to  see  him, 
although  they  were  evidently  depressed  and  anxious,  and  par 
ticularly  Madam  was  so.  Yet,  after  the  usual  forms  of 
friendly  greeting,  she  said,  "  It  is  a  long  time,  Mr.  Rutledge, 
since  you  were  here ;  you  used  to  come,  once  in  a  while,  to 
to  inquire  after  him ;  but  I  suppose  you  tired  of  it,  as  you 
found  that  we  could  give  no  information  on  the  subject." 

"  It  is  true  that  I  was  disappointed  in  not  hearing  from  Mr. 
Merton,  either  through  the  post,  or  you,  or  any  one  ;  yet  this 
would  not  have  deterred  me  from  paying  that  attention  in 
which  I  always  found  pleasure.  But,"  he  continued,  looking 
at  Flora,  "  you  appeared  to  have  a  nearer  friend,  in  a  person 
who  was  a  stranger  to  me ;  so  I  ceased  to  come  often ;  know 
ing,  however,  that  if  you  wished  for  advice  or  assistance,  in 
any  form,  you  had  a  right,  as  well  as  a  sincere  and  reiterated 
request,  to  send  for  me  ;  and  I  hope  that  you  have  so  re 
garded  it." 

"  We  had  not  forgotten  it,  Mr.  Rutledge,"  said  Madam ; 
"  for  we  received  it  as  a  kindness,  and  have  often  thought  of 
its  value,  as  we  knew  that  we  might  depend  upon  it.  Indeed, 
Flora  and  I  were  talking,  this  very  evening,  of  sending  for 
you,  as  we  wished  for  some  information  concerning  the  will 
which  you  once  read  to  us  ;  hoping  to  learn  when  it  would  be 
acted  upon." 

"  Did  Mr.  Merton  leave  any  papers  here  when  he  went 
.abroad?" 

"  O,  yes,  many  ;  there  is  a  trunk  quite  full,  and  some  in  one 
or  two  drawers  besides,"  Madam  replied. 

"  Have  you  ever  looked  them  over  ?  " 

"  No,  I  have  not,  for  I  could  not  bear  to  do  so.", 

"  Then  you  do  not  know  whether  that  will  is  among  them 
or  not  ?  " 


LOVE     AND    LIBERTY.  225 

"  I  had  no  idea  that  it  could  be,  as  I  thought  it  kept  in  some 
office  when  made ;  I  did  not  know  that  he  might  retain  pos 
session  of  it." 

"  It  is  not  expected  that  it  be  left  in  the  office  of  which  you 
are  thinking,  until  after  the  decease  of  the  maker ;  it  ought, 
however,  to  be  deposited  there  soon,  and  for  that  reason  I  came 
to  see  if  I  could  find  it  here." 

"  We  will  bring  down  the  things  in  which  he  kept  his  pa 
pers,  and  you  may  examine  them." 

Thereupon  rising  up  and  taking  a  light,  she  said,  "  Come, 
Flora,"  and  in  a  few  moments  they  returned  bearing  the  trunk 
and  drawers. 

Rutledge  and  the  daughter  immediately  began  to  look  for 
the  desired  instrument ;  but  Madam  could  hardly  be  said  to 
render  any  further  assistance,  for  the  first  paper  which  she 
took  up,  although  of  no  earthly  [consequence  then,  had  Merton's 
handwriting  upon  it ;  and,  by  it,  her  roused  thoughts  were 
taken  captive  and  her  mind  absorbed  while  the  anxious  search 
continued.  Through  such  aperture  her  heart  went  out  aching 
with  sad  and  fond  recollections,  while  her  tearful,  gazing  eyes 
seemed  exploring  for  a  lost  form,  like  Orpheus,  with  hand- 
shadowed  brows,  through  steep  abyss  in  spectral  realm !  Yet 
her  soul  bore  no  musical,  immortal  hope  that  could  lull  to 
sleep  the  triune  terror,  and  charm  far  past  the  dreadful  gate. 

Flora  occasionally  dropped  tears  over  some  awakened  recol 
lection,  but  made  no  delay;  and  Rutledge  searched  on  in 
silence. 

When  they  had  examined  the  last  sheet  in  the  collection, 
Rutledge  looked  up  to  Flora  and  said,  "  Are  these  all  ?  " 

"  I  know  of  no  more,"  she  replied. 

"  Are  you  quite  sure  ?  for  it  is  important  that  a  thorough 
examination  should  be  made  at  this  time." 

"  Mother,  are  not  these  all  the  papers  which  Mr.  Merton 
left  ?  " 


226  .THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

But  seeing  she  did  not  heed  her  question,; — for  she  was  still 
in  that  mysterious  interior  world,  —  she  continued,  "  Mother, 
Mr.  Rutledge  wishes  to  know  if  there  are  any  more  papers  ?  " 
and  Rutledge  added,  "  Yes,  if  any  more  remain  I  should  like 
to  see  them." 

His  unaccustomed  voice  startled  Madam  from  her  reverie, 
and  raised  her  to  the  surface  ;  when,  looking  out,  she  said, 
"  Have  you  found  it  ?  " 

"  No,  not  yet,"  Rutledge  answered  ;  "  and  we  want  you  to 
bring  down  the  rest  of  his  papers." 

"  I  know  of  no  more,  except  a  letter  which  he  once  wrote 
to  me  from  New  York,  and  that  I  shall  keep  as  long  as  I  live  : " 
then,  hastily  pressing  her  hand  to  her  bosom  to  feel  if  it  was 
still  safe,  she  continued,  "  I  could  not  exchange  it  for  the  kind 
est  will  that  was  ever  made." 

"  Dear  mother,  we  do  not  wish  you  to  part  with  that  \  all 
we  ask  is,  if  you  can  think  of  any  other  place  where  he  might 
have  laid  the  will  ?  " 

"  No,  I  cannot ;  I  believe  that  he  left  no  more  papers  here." 

"  May  I  look  through  your  room,  to  see  if  it  is  there  ?  "  she 
inquired. 

"  You  may ; "  and  giving  her  the  keys,  Flora  went  out. 

When  she  had  gone,  Madam  said,  "  I  feel  that  life  has  near 
ly  closed  with  me,  Mr.  Rutledge ;  but,  if  that  paper  is  not 
found,  what  must  be  the  fate  of  my  daughter  and  her  dear 
child  ?  O,  she  has  one  of  the  sweetest  children  that  ever 
lived  ;  and  with  no  one  but  us  feeble  women,  slaves  ourselves, 
perhaps,  to  protect !  O,  what  will  become  of  him  !  " 

"  But  the  father  of  the  child,"  interposed  Rutledge  ;  "  I 
learn  that  he  is  wealthy." 

"  He  has  been  away  many  months ;  he  left  us  suddenly,  and 
I  think  that  he  intends  to  desert  us." 

"  Where  is  he  ?  " 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  227 

"  I  believe  that  he  is  in  New  York  ;  and  I  should  not  be 
surprised  if  he  had  married  since  he  left  here  ;  for  —  but  you 
will  not  allude  to  it  before  Flora,  as  I  think  that  she  does  not 
know  of  it  —  I  saw  in  a  newspaper  the  notice  of  the  marriage 
of  a  person  of  the  same  name,  and  as  it  was  longer  than  usual, 
and  profusely  adorned  with  such  phrases  as  l  High  life,  beauti 
ful  bride,  and  connubial  bliss,'  I  have  but  little  doubt  that  it 
related  to  him." 

"He  is  a  man  whom  I  never  saw  but  once,  and  for  some 
reason  I  did  not  make  his  acquaintance,  so  that  I  have  even 
forgotten  his  name." 

"  Featherstone  —  Anthony  Featherstone." 

Rutledge  took  out  his  memorandum  book  and  noted  the  fact, 
saying,  as  he  placed  it  back  in  his  pocket,  "  I  expect  to  be  in 
New  York  in  a  few  days,  and  if  the  gentleman  is  to  be  found 
there,  I  shall  have  a  few  words  to  say  to  him." 

"  I  do  not  think  you  will  find  it  an  agreeable  visit ;  indeed, 
he  did  not  please  me  at  first,  although  Mr.  Merton  praised 
him,  and  he  very  soon  disclosed  traits  of  character  which  deep 
ened  that  impression." 

"  How  does  your  daughter  feel  towards  him  ?  " 

"  She  has  breathed  no  word  of  him  to  me ;  she  seems  to 
have  the  capacity  to  contain  her  sorrows  ;  in  truth,  her  wounds 
never  cried  out ;  she  has  the  power  to  bear  them  in  silence, 
if  not  to  heal  them." 

"  How  have  you  lived  since  this  Mr.  Featherstone  left ; 
that  is,  permit  me  to  inquire,  how  are  you  supported  ?  " 

"  For  a  time  our  bills  were  paid  at  the  counting  room ;  but 
it  is  now  some  months  since  they  refused  to  do  it  further,  under 
his  directions." 

"  How  did  he  expect  that  you  were  to  obtain  food  ?  " 

"  He  ascertained  in  some  way  that  Mr.  Merton  had  given 
me  some  money  when  he  was  about  to  leave  us,  that  we  might 


228  THE     MUSTEE,     OB 

have  the  satisfaction  of  possessing  it,  (such  were  his  words,) 
even  if  we  did  not  find  a  use  for  it ;  and  his  object  was  to  force 
us  to  live  on  that ;  but  it  will  last  only  a  very  little  while  longer, 
although  we  have  guarded  it  with  the  strictest  care  ;  and  when 
it  is  gone,  Mr.  Rutledge,  what  can  we  do  ?  " 

"  If  the  will  be  found  the  court  is  authorized  to  make  suit 
able  provision  for  you,  until  such  time  as  you  may  receive 
your  legacies." 

"  If  it  be  lost,  what  then  can  we  hope  for  ?  " 

"  If  that  instrument  should  not  come  to  light,  the  legal  heirs 
of  Mr.  Merton  are  not  without  consideration  and  kindness ; 
they  certainly  cannot  forget,  in  their  abundance,  those  whom 
they  know  that  he  would  have  shielded  with  his  life." 

"  I  have  impressions  which  make  that  a  dark  and  doubtful 
prospect." 

"  Surely  the  father  of  Flora's  child  will  not  permit  the  iron 
law  to  take  its  course." 

"  I  fear  he  may  ;  for  he  appeared  to  hate  the  child,  and  I 
think  grew  more  rough  and  hard  to  Flora  in  consequence  of 
its  birth.  Then  he  is  far  away,  and  none  of  those  around  him 
know  our  circumstances,  so  as  to  look  into  his  face  and  make  him 
hear  our  cry  for  help  ;  otherwise  he  will  not  heed  it,  as  all  that 
he  could  ever  have  felt  for  her  must  turn  to  ice  at  such  a  distance. 
Indeed,  he  never  loved ;  he  is  not  capable  of  it ;  and  if  he  has 
married,  as  I  think  he  has,  he  will  not  only  cast  us  off,  but  be 
anxious  to  thrust  us  out  of  sight  if  he  find  it  in  his  power  to 
do  so  :  of  this  he  is  capable." 

"  It  is  possible  ;  yet  I  am  loath  to  believe  that,  when  he  shall 
calmly  consider  from  what  source  he  received  his  fortune,  he 
can  act  so  basely." 

"  He  may  think  that  he  has  some  cause,  as  Flora  must  have 
seen  that  he  had  no  love  for  her ;  and  there  may  have  been 
something  said  which  hurt  his  self-esteem,  for  he  went  away 


LOVE     AND    LIBERTY.  229 

very  abruptly ;  hence,  if  he  have  any  power  over  us,  he  is  sure 
to  use  it  for  torture." 

Flora  here  returned  and  said,  "  I  can  find  no  other  papers 
in  the  house,  and  we  may  safely  say  that  the  will  is  not  here : 
might  not  Mr.  Merton  have  taken  it  with  him  ?  " 

"  He  was  not  likely  to  do  so,  and  I  am  persuaded  that  he 
did  not." 

"  Have  his  papers,  which  he  left  abroad,  been  received  ? " 
Flora  inquired. 

"  I  am  so  informed  ;  and,  further,  that  there  is  not  only  no 
devise,  but  no  wish  or  intimation  any  where  expressed  with 
regard  to  the  disposal  of  his  estate  ;  and  I  infer  from  this  that 
he  believed  he  had  made  ample  provision  for  you,  and  thought 
it  secure." 

"  Where  else  then  are  we  to  search  for  the  instrument  ?  " 
inquired  Flora. 

"  May  it  not  be  in  Mr.  Featherstone's  possession  ?  "  Rut- 
ledge  asked. 

On  this  the  blood  hummed  in  Flora's  ears,  and  flashed  crim 
son  even  to  her  forehead,  as  she  replied,  "  It  may  be." 

"  It  is  my  intention  to  go  to  New  York  soon,  at  which  time 
I  shall  make  it  a  point  to  see  him ;  and  as  I  believe  that  he 
must  know  something  of  the  matter,  I  may  persuade  him  to 
disclose  it." 

Thereupon,  Rutledge  arising  to  depart,  Madam  inquired, 
"  What  day  do  you  think  of  leaving  for  the  north  ?  " 

"  On  Saturday,  probably." 

"  May  we  hope  to  see  you  again  before  you  go  ? "  asked 
Madam. 

"  I  fear  that  I  shall  not  find  an  opportunity ;  yet,  if  I  learn 
any  thing  more  of  this  business  that  would  profit  you  to  hear, 
you  may  depend  upon  seeing  me." 

•Drawing  back  as  he  spoke,  she  thanked  him  for  his  kind- 
20 


230  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

ness  and  attention,  and  replying  to  liis  good  night,  Flora  at 
tended  him  into  the  hall  and  to  the  door.  On  reaching  that  she 
said,  "  Mr.  Rutledge,  I  came  out  because  I  desired  to  say  a  few 
words  to  you  from  which  I  would  spare  my  mother's  feelings ; 
for  I  fear  that  her  own  sorrows  are  more  than  she  can  bear.  As 
you  have  expressed  your  intention  of  calling  on  Mr,  Feather- 
stone,  I  felt  that  I  could  not  permit  you  to  do  so  without  in 
forming  you  of  our  relations  to  each  other ;  as  they  are  such 
that,  I  think  I  may  safely  say,  neither  of  us  wish  to  see  or 
speak  to  each  other  again.  Certainly  he  can  have  no  de 
sire  to  see  me,  for  he,  has  married  since  he  left  here,  and  I 
could  not  meet  him  as  I  once  did,  as  my  affection  for  him  is 
gone ;  therefore  I  hope  you  will  make  no  appeal  to  his  feel 
ings,  as  that  seems  to  me  a  degradation  to  which  I  cannot  con 
sent  to  submit.  If  there  be  no  will  found  in  our  favor,  he 
well  knows  what  were  Mr.  Merton's  views ;  and,  if  he  do  not 
heed  them,  nothing  can  move  him.  In  truth,  under  any  cir 
cumstances,  I  could  not  pray  for  mercy  at  his  hands ;  rather 
the  most  hopeless  bondage  and  the  severest  tasks  than  that. 
Unused  as  I  am  to  work,  I  yet  have  tried  to  look  at  all  its  re 
pulsive  aspects,  and  I  see  nothing  that  should  make  me  tremble, 
if  it  were  not  for  my  child.  O  Mr.  Rutledge,"  she  continued 
in  tears,  "  if  he  must  follow  me  into  slavery,  O,  will  you  not 
see,  when  you  return,  if  there  is  humanity  enough  in  any  or 
all  of  those  who,  while  Mr.  Merton  lived,  felt  the  golden  touch 
of  his  bounty,  to  save  the  last  of  his  blood  from  chains  ?  " 

"  I  shall  seek  you  at  once,  when  I  come  back  to  the  city ; 
and,  if  there  has  been  any  disastrous  change,  you  may  rely  on 
me  to  speak  and  do  all  I  can  for  you  ;  but  I  trust  that  these 
clouds  will  pass,  and  I  shall  find  you  free  and  kindly  cared 
for.  Do  not  weep,"  he  conjjnued ;  "  your  child  has  fhe  same 
tender  and  infinitely-sustaining  arm  to  lean  upon  without 
which  the  mightiest  cannot  take  a  step  or  form  a  thought." 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  231 

"  O  Mr.  Rutledge,  I  know  that  you  will  remember  us,  for 
you  are  kind  and  good.  And  you  will  forgive  my  momentary 
weakness,  while  I  glanced  down  the  dark  way." 

"  Feeling  and  emotion  are  not  weakness,"  replied  Rutledge, 
"  but  springs  of  action  and  inspirers  of  courage." 

So  taking  leave  he  thought,  as  he  moved  away,  "  It  is,  in 
deed,  a  gloomy  prospect.  If  the  dreaded  change  come,  what 
a  change  it  must  be  !  —  passing  from  downy  ease,  dreamy  lux 
ury,  and  devoted  love,  to  reeking  drudgery,  squalid  pov 
erty,  and  rigorous  domination  ;  and  this,  not  only  for  a  year 
or  a  life  even,  but  leading  down  a  long  line  of  chained  and 
bleeding  generations.  Can  man  so  clip,  and  curb,  and  crush 
human  aspiration,  and  not  tremble  for  himself,  remembering 
that  sovereign  Justice  will  surely  some  time  arraign  him  ?  Did 
I  say  justice  ?  The  conscious,  immortal  soul,  hurt  and  suffering 
with  the  wrong  which  she  has  inflicted,  will,  if  not  here,  yet 
somewhere  in  the  circle  of  the  ages,  seek  judgment  on  herself, 
and  meet  the  penalty  to  appease  the  dreadful  recollection ; 
and  even  then,  when  God  hath  pardoned  the  sin  of  breaking 
down  the  protecting  will,  and  all  the  sweet  hopes  of  a  fellow- 
creature,  to  our  lusts,  I  think  I  should  wander  sorrowing 
through  the  universe,  until  I  found  and  won  the  full  forgive 
ness  of  the  wronged." 


232  THE 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

Trust  not  the  treason  of  those  smiling  looks, 
Until  ye  have  their  guileful  trains  well  tried ; 
For  they  are  like  but  unto  golden  hooks, 
That  from  the  foolish  fish  their  baits  do  hide. 

SPENSEK. 

AURELIA'S  honeymoon  was  neither  bright  nor  long-con 
tinued  ;  it  did  not  ascend  the  heavens,  but,  circling  far  below 
the  zenith,  soon  began  to  edge  and  wane  away,  and  yield  its 
light  later  and  later  on  the  night.  Indeed,  how  could  it  be 
otherwise  ?  as  Featherstone's  habits  seemed  to  gain  power  over 
him,  so  that  he  found  the  club  very  attractive ;  and  besides, 
he  was  already  paying  his  addresses  to  a  new  mistress,  in  the 
form  of  political  ambition. 

Still,  for  a  time,  the  bride  derived  much  pleasure  from  the 
happy  contentment  of  her  father,  and  the  gratified  pride  of  her 
mother,  as  they  opened,  refreshed  and  renewed,  upon  the  al 
tered  scene.  The  wealth  had  yet  other  attractions  also,  or 
rather  distractions  —  such  as  fine  equipage,  rich,  overflowing 
wardrobe,  and  a  round  of  fashionable  amusements :  these  she 
had  to  profusion,  if  not  to  satiety. 

But  if  the  craving  heart  be  left  vacant,  how  will  it  at  length 
come  to  scorn  all  this,  and,  it  may  be,  despise  the  bestower  of  it, 
because  it  would  have  a  delusive  vision  of  something  beyond 
which  comes  not !  When  the  ineffable  glories  of  love's  young 
dream  have  all  been  bartered  for  bawbles,  to  become  symbols  of 
withered  hopes  and  frost-nipped  affections,  the  sad  recollection 
does  not  awaken  grateful  thoughts,  neither  does  it  seem  even 
worldly  wise  !  Not  thus  do  the  birds  line  their  nests  in  the 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  233 

summer  bowers ;  not  for  such  gifts  do  they  momently  gush 
forth  into  joyful  song. 

If,  when  such  a  sale  and  purchase  are  completed,  the  con 
tract  could  always  be  acquiesced  in  by  the  promisors,  there 
certainly  might  be  more  decent  order  in  society  ;  yet  dim  and 
dismal  clouds  would  trail  across  life's  morning  star,  and  the 
music  which  elevates  and  glorifies  our  march  would  be  tranced 
in  every  string.  The  heaven-descended  dream  of  love,  like 
that  of  liberty,  fringes  life  with  divine  splendors,  making  it 
godlike  and  worthy  of  its  Author.  These  two  emotions  and 
aspirations  of  our  natures,  that  count  all  else  as  nothing  in 
comparison,  that  give  all  and  sacrifice  all,  if  need  be,  show  our 
being  and  our  story  to  be  touched  with  all  the  glory  with  which 
inspired  penmen  have  blazoned  it,  either  in  its  origin  or  its 
destiny.  Indeed,  Love  and  Liberty  are  pendulums  of  such 
sweep  that  they  vibrate  from  God  to  God  !  Other  machinery 
may  mark  the  revolutions  of  time  on  its  axis,  but  these  alone 
beat  the  progress  along  its  immeasurable  orbit.  Desperate 
Sappho  leaps  from  a  beetling  rock  on  the  Lesbian  shore,  and 
the  most  love-lorn  heart  that  ever  sighed  to  the  lyre  is  still ; 
and  Brutus  stabs  his  bosom  friend,  and  strikes  on,  in  the  sacred 
name  of  Liberty,  until  tyranny  triumphs,  and  the  sainted  as 
sassin  so  despairs  of  the  republic  that  he  falls  on  his  own 
sword  ;  yet  they  have  borne  the  world  nearer  to  heaven,  and 
drawn  down  upon  it  a  warmer  smile  and  a  deeper  sympathy 
from  the  spirits  who  mark  the  devotion  of  a  human  soul. 

In  reality  Aurelia  had  prized  the  intimacy  with  a  noble  mind 
too  highly  not  to  feel  its  loss ;  and  being  left  too  frequently 
to  think  of  it  alone,  the  recollection  soon  came  with  a  sigh, 
a  regret,  and  at  length  a  kind  of  hope ;  so  that,  on  one  fine 
afternoon  in  the  opening  spring  time,  she  called  to  see  Mrs. 
Summers. 

The  excited  widow  arose  to  meet  her,  saying,  "  Is  it  you, 
20* 


234  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

Mrs.  Featherstone  ?  I  can  scarcely  believe  my  eyes,  for  I 
did  not  hear  a  carriage  stop  at  the  door." 

"  I  walked  down,  as  I  used  to  do ;  and  you  must  give  me 
some  tea  before  I  leave." 

"  With  the  greatest  pleasure  ;  but  I  am  afraid  that  we  have 
nothing  which  you  can  eat ;  yet  if  you  will  only  tell  me  what 
you  would  like,  I  shall  be  delighted  to  set  it  before  you,  if  it 
can  be  procured." 

"  I  have  no  desire  to  find  any  thing  more  than  I  used  to 
find." 

"  Now,  really,  I  do  wish  to  do  something  more.  If  you  had 
only  thought  to  have  sent  one  of  your  servants  to  let  me  know 
of  your  intention,  or  had  corne  earlier,  I  would  have  tried  to 
prepare  the  best." 

"  You  are  very  kind,  but  truly  I  came  in  late  to  prevent 
exertion,  and  surprise  you  by  fulfilling  a  promise  which  you 
may  have  forgotten." 

"  No,  indeed ;  and  you  shall  have  it  just  as  you  say,  if  you 
really  prefer  it  so.  But  I  do  wonder  why  you  did  not  come 
down  here  in  your  carriage,  when  you  have  such  elegant 
horses.  I  am  sure  that  I  would  not  walk  a  step  if  I  had 
them." 

"  One  cannot  always  say  what  they  would  do,  and  there 
may  be  more  pleasure  sometimes  in  walking  than  in  riding ; 
at  least  I  have  found  it  so." 

"  Yes,  such  is  the  way  of  the  world ;  indeed,  I  have  often 
noticed  that  those  who  keep  horses  frequently  take  long  walks, 
and  boast  of  it  even,  while  a  great  many  who  do  not,  because 
they  cannot  quite  afford  it,  hide  away  at  home  and  go  out  only 
from  necessity." 

"  It  is  even  so  ;  for  we  sigh  after  many  things  which,  when 
obtained,  we  find  to  be  of  little  use ;  the  observer  is  usually 
more  charmed  with  them  than  is  the  possessor." 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  235 

"  That  is  just  what  you  rich  folks  always  say ;  you  like  to 
disparage  the  beautiful  things  you  have  much  better  than  to 
part  with  them.  But  how  beautiful  you  are !  and  what  a 
beautiful  dress !  and  do  let  me  lay  away  that  love  of  a  shawl 
where  it  will  not  get  injured." 

As  Mrs.  Summers  stepped  into  the  hall,  she  met  Park  com 
ing  in,  and  said,  in  a  suppressed  voice,  "  There  is  some  one 
here  whom  you  used  to  like  to  see." 
u  Ah,  who  may  it  be  ?  "  he  inquired. 
"  Don't  you  know  this  bonnet  and  this  cashmere  ?  " 
"  I  am  not  aware  of  having  made  their  acquaintance." 
"  I  should  think  that  you  might  see  that  they  are  a  bride's." 
On  this  Park  laid  aside  his  hat  and  outer  garment,  and  en 
tered  the  sitting  room  ;  while  the  widow,  having  deposited  the 
garment?,  slipped  softly  into  the  adjoining  parlor. 

As  he  came  in,  Aurelia  arose  with  a  smile  to  meet  him ; 
and  extending  her  hand,  which  he  took,  said,  "  Do  you  think 
that  leaving  your  name  at  our  door  once  is  sufficient  excuse 
for  six  months'  absence  ?" 

"  Have  I  broken  any  of  the  laws  of  fashion  by  so  doing?  " 
"I  had  thought,"  said  she  with  some  agitation,  "that  our 
intercourse  might  be  entitled  to  the  name  and  the  forms  of 
friendship." 

"  Friendship  is  a  rare  flower,  and  one  that  I  have  doubts  of 
finding ;  for  it  opens  oftenest  in  the  morning  of  life,  and  is  apt 
to  close  in  the  meridian  hour ;  yet  I  begin  to  see  that  it 
would  be  sweetest  and  most  precious  in  the  evening  of  our 
days." 

Aurelia's  lips  quivered  and  her  eyes  gathered  moisture,  not 
so  much  from  the  words  that  he  had  spoken,  as  from  the  tone 
of  his  voice,  which,  although  not  meant  to  be  reproachful, 
made  her  feel  as  do  the  Swiss  when  they  hear  their  home 
songs  far  away  from  their  mountains. 


236  THE    M US TEE,   OR 

Feeling  much  moved,  she  did  not  trust  herself  to  reply,  but 
turned  to  the  window,  and  gazed  out  upon  the  sombre  stones 
of  the  adjacent  building  without  noticing,  as  they  were  in  uni 
son  with  her  thoughts,  and  Park  took  up  a  book ;  so,  for  a 
minute  or  two  there  was  silence.  Upon  this  the  widow  came 
•in,  and  seeing  them,  said,  "  Plow  still  you  are  !  and  Mr.  Park 
reading  a  book  ! " 

But  the  summons  to  tea  mingling  with  her  words,  they 
accepted  it  as  a  reprieve,  and  were  soon  seated  at  the 
table.  Yet  there  was  only  a  thin  sprinkling  of  conversa 
tion  during  the  sitting,  notwithstanding  the  laudable  exer 
tions  of  the  widow,  amid  her  many  apologies  for  not  having 
any  thing  tempting  to  her  visitor,  as  she  appeared  to  have  no 
appetite. 

Park  sat  but  a  few  moments,  though  he  gave  no  sign  of 
haste  ;  yet  he  arose  alone,  returned  to  the  sitting  room,  passed 
through  and  left  the  house. 

Soon  after  Aurelia  entered  the  room,  and  finding  that 
Park  was  not  there,  she  felt  relieved,  yet  grew  sad  with 
the  thought  that  he  had  gone.  But,  as  she  saw  that  it 
was  not  from  indifference,  after  a  while  her  spirits  arose, 
and  she  passed  as  agreeable  an  evening  with  the  voluble 
widow  as  she  had  ever  done  since  their  acquaintance  com 
menced. 

Having  anticipated  that  there  would  be  a  kind  of  conversation 
that  might  require  some  light  work  to  fill  the  pauses,  or  give 
weight  to  the  themes,  Aurelia  had  taken  a  purse  which  was 
partly  knitted,  and  seemed  to  be  kept  for  such  occasions.  On 
this  she  leisurely  took  a  stitch,  or  dropped  one,  or  ravelled 
down,  as  though  it  were  Penelope  at  her  loom  beguiling 
her  thoughts  from  the  absent  Ulysses ;  while  Mrs.  Summers 
was  busy  with  button-hole  stitch  on  the  edge  of  some  white 
garment,  apparently  shaped  after  the  style  of  the  Turk. 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  237 

As  they  wrought,  they  talked  of  many  things ;  but  mostly 
of  dress,  —  for  the  widow  thought  Aurelia  an  oracle  in  that, 
and  the  bride  was  willing  to  indulge  her,  —  of  what  was,  of 
what  is,  and  what  probably  would  be,  the  prevailing  fashion. 
And  they  laughed  over  the  border  warfare  —  which  the 
widow's  work  suggested,  and  which  was  then  raging  —  be 
tween  points  and  scallops ;  and  spoke  of  the  powerful  sup 
porters  of  each,  and  which  appeared  to  be  the  victor  of  the 
moment ;  and  how,  after  all,  it  mattered  little  which  triumphed, 
as  the  plaid  was  so  over  them  all  that  it  was  but  a  petty  strife 
between  clans ;  and  that,  too,  for  supremacy  in  a  district  so 
obscure  as  to  be  known  only  to  minute  explorers. 

Thus  nine  o'clock  came  round,  and,  shortly  after,  Aurelia 
prepared  herself;  and  as  she  was  about  to  leave  with  John, 
the  widow's  man  servant,  she  said,  "  I  have  enjoyed  my  visit 
much,  and  you  must  return  it  soon." 

"  I  am  charmed  to  hear  it ;  and  I  should  be  delighted  to 
do  so." 

"  Then  you  must  name  an  early  day  on  which  it  will  be 
be  convenient  to  come,  so  that  I  may  be  at  leisure." 

This  arrangement  was  gladly  made  ;  and  it  may  be  easily 
imagined  that  there  was  punctual  and  delighted  compliance, 
with  admiration  and  praise  for  every  thing  which  she  saw  or 
tasted. 

The  profusion  and  display,  and  continual  round  of  amuse 
ment,  of  their  first  winter,  had  failed  to  fill  the  heart,  of  the 
bride  ;  and  Featherstone  had  taken  no  true  steps  to  occupy  it 
himself,  if  it  were  in  his  power  to  do  so. 

The  wedding  was  high  tide  with  him,  as  it  is  with  so  many 
others,  and  soon  the  rocks  and  shallows  became  visible,  and 
showed  themselves  more  and  more,  as  the  current  ran  ever 
lower  and  lower  in  its  ebb,  with  no  returning  flood  that  ful 
filled  the  promise  of  the  first.  Hence  Aurelia  began  to  feel 


238  THE    MUSTEE,OB 

alone,  and  consequently  craved  excitement ;  and,  going  to  a 
distant  church  on  one  evening,  some  few  weeks  after  her  visit 
to  Mrs.  Summers,  she  accidentally  met  Park  there. 

Drawn  by  the  brightness  and  freshness  of  the  day,  to  seek 
for  that  Sabbath  stillness  which  dwelleth  not  in  cities,  Park 
had  crossed  on  to  the  island,  towards  evening,  and  strolled  into 
the  country.  There  he  caught  the  pensive  tone  of  nature,  and 
mused  away  the  hour,  apparently  without  aim  or  object  to 
those  who  were  flashing  by  in  their  slender  vehicles  ;  yet  to 
him  it  was  a  bath  most  delicious  to  the  sense,  most  purifying 
to  the  man. 

Aroused,  at  length,  by  night's  flitting  shadows,  he  turned 
towards  the  town,  through  which  he  had  passed  ;  and,  on 
reaching  it,  he  entered  the  thronged  church  of  a  popular 
preacher.  Pausing  at  the  foot  of  the  aisle,  an  attendant  came 
and  conducted  him  to  a  pew,  in  which  there  was  but  one  va 
cant  seat ;  and  settling  into  the  place,  which  he  quite  filled,  he 
turned  towards  the  lady  at  his  side  to  find  the  eyes  of  Aurelia 
upon  him  ;  and  they  were  bright  with  unexpected  pleasure, 
while  the  glow  of  quickened  blood  was  on  her  cheek. 

Yet,  throughout  the  service,  he  sat  and  thought  of  muta 
bility  and  change,  —  the  theme  of  the  preacher,  —  and  she, 
who  was  pressed  to  his  side,  was  only  so  mingled  up  with  his 
meditations  as  to  give  keener  point  and  more  touching  empha 
sis  to  the  eloquence. 

Aurelia  had  emotions  rather  than  meditations,  for  he  who 
was  beside  her  filled  the  first  place  in  her  mind ;  while  the 
sermon  seemed  but  a  haze  of  splendor  around  him,  and  the 
tones  of  the  orator  only  thrilled  her  to  tenderer  sentiment 
towards  the  paramount  object  of  her  thoughts. 

Never  before  had  they  been  so  near,  for  so  long  a  time  ; 
yet  Park  felt  that  there  was  an  impassable  chasm  between 
them ;  that  some  moral  earthquake  had  shaken  them  asunder ; 


LOVE    A.ND    LIBERTY.  239 

and  whatever  agitation  still  lingered  from  the  shock,  or  gloom 
brooded  around,  he  saw  that  his  habitation  was  not  yet  a  ruin, 
although  his  once  most  charming  prospect  was  closed  up 
forever. 

She,  too,  was  exquisitely  sensible  to  the  proximity,  and 
trembled  at  every  pause  in  the  discourse,  through  fear  that  it 
was  about  to  close.  Yet  her  heart  grew  thirsty  every  instant ! 
like  him,  who,  amid  the  flames,  had  a  vision  of  Paradise,  and 
cried  out,  to  one  whom  he  had  neglected,  for  a  single  drop  of 
water  to  cool  his  tongue,  all-unmindful  of  the  gulf  that 
divided  them. 

When  the  ceremonies  were  completed  and  the  crowd  gave 
way,  they  walked  out  together  ;  and  Aurelia's  carriage  being 
drawn  up  near  the  door,  Park  attended  her  to  it ;  on  which 
she  said,  "  May  I  have  your  company  ?  " 

Handing  her  in,  he  followed  and  took  a  seat  beside  her. 
But  they  rode  silently  until  they  reached  the  ferry,  when 
Park  feeling  the  necessity  of  some  common  theme  to  still  his 
busy  fancy,  or  to  "  wreak  his  thoughts  upon,"  inquired,  "  How 
were  you  pleased  with  the  sermon  ?  " 

"  Very  much.     Were  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  often  hear  him,  and  never  with  more  satisfaction 
than  I  have  received  on  this  evening." 

"  It  is  my  first  visit  to  his  church,"  said  Aurelia,  "  but  I 
intend  to  go  frequently  for  the  future,  as  I  enjoyed  the  hour 
exceedingly.  Yet,  don't  you  think  that  his  tone  and  manner 
might  be  improved?" 

"  I  know  there  is  a  certain  roughness  about  him  which 
strikes  one  at  first  as  a  want  of  taste  ;  still  I  fear  that,  if  it 
were  polished  away,  ii  would  diminish  the  weight  of  the 
diamond  more  than  mere  smoothness  or  lustre"  of  surface 
could  repay." 

"  It   may  be   so ;    and,  after  all,  one  cares  little  for  the 


240  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

ungainliness  of  the  motion  when  every  thrust  is  mortal ;  it 
pleased  me  much  to  see  him  charge  into  the  host  with  such 
courage." 

"  Yes,  he  is  a  knight  without  fear,  however  much  he  may 
suffer  reproach." 

"  Of  that,  no  doubt,  he  will  get  his  full  share,  as  he  must 
wear  'his  beaver  up'  to  have  so  looked  into  every  thing." 

"  Yes,  that  must  be  very  small  which  escapes  his  eye,  or 
very  subtle  that  eludes  his  analysis  ;  and  he  is  not  only  a 
natural  artist,  but  a  well-trained  one.  Observe  with  what  skill 
he  paints,  leaving  out  no  minute  thing  which  belongs  to  the 
background,  even ;  whether  it  be  a  picture  on  which  the  sun 
light  falls,  or  a  view  of  the  vista  that  opens  in  the  soul  to  the 
divine  smile  ;  whether  it  be  a  description  of  a  mountain 
brook  at  play,  now  stealing  round  a  sheltering  rock,  and  now 
laughing  from  pool  to  pool  in  the  glance  of  day,  or  of  mistaken 
life  and  the  resistless  sweep  of  Time's  submerging  wave.  I 
like  his  free  speech  also,  which  scouts  all  conventional  shelter, 
and  knows  no  neutral  ground,  but  marches  straight  on  the  am 
bush  of  the  enemy." 

Emerging  from  the  boat,  they  moved  on  in  silence  once 
more,  until  the  horses  were  drawn  up  at  Park's  home,  when 
Aurelia  inquired,  "  May  I  hope  to  see  you  at  our  house  soon  ?  " 

"  I  intend  to  call ;  yet  my  engagements  are  such  that  it  is 
difficult  to  say  when." 

"  Can  you  not  forego  some  trifle  of  business  in  my  favor  ? 
You  used  to  do  so  once." 

But  as  the  footman  stood  at  the  open  door  when  she  finished, 
Park  arose  without  replying ;  and,  holding  her  hand  while 
saying  good  night,  stepped  out  with  a  calm  pulse  and  a  heart 
still  loyal  to  lofty  ideas ;  and  the  carriage  bore  away  one  who 
would  have  been  very  unhappy,  had  she  not  been  sustained 
by  a  wild  and  delusive  hope. 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  241 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

No  general  gauntlet-gatherer  for  the  weak 
Against  the  strong,  yet  over-scrupulous 
At  lucky  junctures  ;  one  who  won't  forego 
The  after-battle  work  of  binding  wounds. 

BROWNING. 

HAVING  obtained  an  appointment  with  Featherstone,  Rut- 
ledge  presented  himself  at  the  door  of  the  mansion,  and,  on 
giving  his  name  to  the  servant,  was  immediately  conducted  to 
the  library.  As  he  passed  in,  a  gentleman  arose,  and,  advan 
cing,  said,  "  I  believe  I  received  a  note  from  you  yesterday." 

"  I  addressed  one  to  Mr.  Featherstone,"  Rutledge  replied. 

"  That  is  my  name,"  said  the  person  ;  "  take  a  seat  if  you 
please.  You  are  from  the  south,  I  think  you  informed  me." 

"  I  came  from  New  Orleans  a  few  days  since." 

"  Ah !  Are  you  from  that  interesting  city  ?  I  resided 
there  once  myself  for  a  few  years,  and  a  very  gay  and  agree 
able  place  I  found  it.  I  think  that  a  young  man  may  learn 
some  of  the  ways  of  life,  and  get  clear  of  many  of  his  preju 
dices,  there,  sooner  and  more  safely  than  in  any  other  town 
with  which  I  am  acquainted.  I  cannot  call  your  countenance 
to  mind,  but  I  presume  that  I  must  have  met  you  frequently ; 
perhaps  in  the  St.  Charles,  or  at  the  opera." 

"  It  is  possible  that  we  may  have  met  in  both  of  those 
places,  although  I  have  no  recollection  of  seeing  you.  I, 
however,  knew  your  friend  and  relative,  Mr.  Merton,  well,  I 
may  say  intimately,  having  been,  for  many  years,  his  legal  ad 
viser  ;  and,  among  other  instruments,  I  drew  a  will  for  him, 
21 


242  THE     MUST  EE,    OR 

which  he  perfected  in  due  form  of  law  ;  and  it  is  concerning 
some  of  the  persons  mentioned  in  that  testament,  and  for 
whom  ample  provision  was  therein  made,  that  I  wish  to  speak 
with  you  at  this  time." 

"  I  remember  hearing  that  there  was  such  an  instrument  as 
you  mention;  and  I  recollect  that  we  made  very  diligent 
search  for  it,  and  very  wide  inquiry  was  had,  also ;  but  they 
all  came  to  nothing.  Therefore  we  arrived  at  the  very  natural 
conclusion  that  he  must  have  destroyed  it;  and  I  can  scarcely 
believe  it  has  turned  up  since  I  left ;  if  so,  my  agent  is  sin 
gularly  remiss  in  not  having  instructed  me.  I  presume  the 
will  was  not  committed  to  your  care  ?  " 

"  It  was  not ;  and  I  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  I  think  it 
utterly  lost ;  not  destroyed,  however,  as  you  suggest ;  unless 
it  were  for  the  purpose  of  providing  still  more  bountifully  for 
the  persons  in  whose  behalf  I  appear  here.  Indeed,  to  have 
put  away  that  will  without  feeling  that  he  had,  in  some  form, 
protected  them  from  want  and  the  inexorable  law  would  have 
wrung  every  fibre  of  his  generous  nature.  He  could  not 
have  so  done ;  it  did  not  lie  within  the  range  of  his  power. 
Were  it  to  have  bought  bread  for  his  own  mouth,  he  would 
have  contended  unto  death  with  the  hunger,  if  thereby  he 
could  have  saved  them.  I  well  remember  how  deeply  he  was 
moved  while  we  were  elaborating  the  provisions  for  the  pro 
tection  and  support  of  those  to  whom  he  was  bound  by  the 
*  Higher  Law/  and  how  cheerfully  he  rose  up  when  they  had 
been  drawn  out  to  his  liking.  On  their  completion,  he  took 
my  hand,  and  said,  *  Rutledge,  come  and  dine  with  us  to-day, 
and  bring  up  that  document,  for  I  want  them  to  hear  you 
read  it.'  "  *. 

"  I  also  knew  Mr.  Merton,  knew  him  intimately ;  and  I  see, 
in  your  account  of  him,  a  degree  of  weakness  of  which  I 
thought  my  friend  incapable.  Certainly,  while  I  was  with 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  243 

him,  I  saw  no  such  trait.  Hence  I  am  very  naturally  led 
to  suppose  that  a  will  such  as  you  intimate  could  not  long 
have  survived  the  making.  Had  he  died  a  mere  youth,  it 
would  seem  more  probable  ;  but  the  experience  of  nearly  sixty 
years  of  life  is  apt  to  harden  or  reason  a  man  into  something 
less  romantic." 

"  If  there  be  no  will  found  is  it  your  wish  that  the  law 
should  take  its  painful  course  ?  " 

"  Am  I  to  understand  that  you  appear  here  as-  counsel  for 
those  persons  ?  " 

"  I  am  their  friend  here  and  every  where ;  and  no  less 
yours  when  I  say  that  then,  and  then  only,  does  wealth  appear 
to  be  a  ministering  angel  when  it  gives  us  the  power  to  make 
full  restitution  ;  when  it  smooths  the  path  of  one  whom  we 
may  have  tempted  to  err  ;  or  more  omnipotent  still,  when  it 
melts  chains  of  iron  from  those  who  dreamed  that  they  were 
bound  to  us  by  the  golden  links  of  love." 

"  Mr.  Rutledge,  when  one  is  willing  to  meet  the  facts  of  a 
case,  allusions  or  portents,  however  forcibly  or  felicitously  ap 
plied,  have  but  little  weight ;  and  I  believe  that  I  should  do 
you  great  injustice  if  I  thought  for  a  moment  that  I  could  in 
struct  you  in  the  answer.  Yet,  as  it  is  not  within  the  rule  of 
the  profession  for  you  to  rejoin,  I  shall  be  under  the  necessity 
of  doing  so  myself.  You  are  aware  then,  in  the  first  place,  — 
I  have  no  doubt,  —  that  Madam  and  Flora  are  quite  well  edu 
cated  ;  sufficiently  so,  at  least,  to  know  the  consequences  of 
their  own  acts ;  that  Madam's  associations  with  Mr.  Merton 
gave  her  ease  and  affluence  for  more  than  twenty  years,  at  the 
expense  of  his  heirs  ;  and  that  his  death  only  renders  her  back 
to  the  condition  from  which  he  so  long  raised  her.  You  may 
say  that  she  has  a  child,  yes,  a  grandchild  if  it  so  please  you  ; 
and  here  there  would  be  good  and  valid  reasons  why  the  heirs 
of  the  deceased  should  do  something  for  their  support ;  but  the 


244  THE    MUSTEE,     OR 

laws  of  the  Southern  States  preclude  the  necessity  for  such 
action  ;  they  do  more  —  they  discountenance  it.  Certainly,  my 
learned  friend  knows  that  such  goods  are  in  demand  in  the 
Crescent  City.  Indeed,  I  was  offered  a  persuasive  price  for 
Flora  before  I  left  your  town  ;  yet  at  that  time  I  thought  of 
returning ;  but  marrying  soon  after  I  came  north,  I  concluded 
to  settle  here.  And,  on  the  part  of  her  child,  I  see  no  call  for 
charity,  as  he  is  worth  fifty  dollars  at  this  moment ;  for  the 
reason  that  the  law  takes  entire  possession,  thus  rendering  him 
safe  and  serviceable.  This  I  believe  to  be  the  purport  and 
complexion  of  your  servile  regulations  ;  and  if  they  are  not 
agreeable  to  you,  why  not  devote  yourself  to  the  work  of 
changing  them,  and  so  strike  at  the  root  of  the  tree  to  whose 
shadow  you  point  ?  " 

"  Would  to  God  that  I  could  change  them,  at  least  so  far  as 
to  protect  the  weak.  Am  I  to  infer  that  you  estimate  these 
persons  simply  as  property,  Mr.  Featherstone  ?  " 

"  As  to  that  I  have  not  yet  made  proclamation.  But  I  will 
say  this  much,  if  you  have  any  desire  to  purchase,  you  may  do 
well  to  see  my  agent." 

"  Mr.  Featherstone,  if  I  know  aught  of  myself,  I  came  here 
out  of  pure  humanity  ;  came  to  soften,  if  not  prevent,  the  fall 
of  those  who  thought  that  in  strict  justice  they  might  look  up 
to  you  for  protection.  But  I  find  it  to  be  a  delusive  dream. 
Still  I  feel  that  I  have  discharged  a  duty,  and  in  a  way  which 
you  will  not  be  likely  to  forget,  whatever  may  be  your  course 
of  action.  If  you  yield  to  right  feeling,  you  will,  some  time, 
seek  to  thank  me  ;  if  you  take  the  broader  way,  the  laws  of 
the  land,  indeed,  cannot  reach  you,  either  to  hinder  or  hurt ; 
and  you  may  think  that  you  wear  impenetrable  armor  to  all 
higher  commandments,  yet  the  fiery  darts  of  consciepce  shall 
at  length  rive  and  penetrate  every  part  to  stretch  you  in  the 
dust.  Low  as  the  victims  may  fall,  and  chill  as  is  the  shadow 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  245 

in  which  they  may  be  doomed  to  walk,  it  will  be  light  and 
cheerful  compared  with  the  woe  of  him  who  awakes  too  late 
to  implore  forgiveness  on  this  side  the  grave.  You  may 
harden  your  heart  for  a  time  against  their  plaint ;  but  come  it 
will,  in  the  hours  of  inevitable  weakness,  or  amid  the  strokes 
of  fortune,  dismantling  all  the  towers  of  your  strength,  to 
leave  you  prone  and  bleeding  among  the  melancholy  ruins 
of  life." 

"  You  manifest  such  a  philanthropic  interest  in  this  matter, 
Mr.  Rutledge,  perhaps  you  had  better  appeal  to  Mr.  Merton's 
sister  when  you  return." 

"  It  is  but  a  few  days  since  I  waited  upon  Mrs.  Steel,  at 
which  time  I  learned  that  the  titles  to  this  property  were  in 
you ;  and  I  have  no  doubt — as  I  believe  you  have  none  —  that 
they  were  given  that  you  might  have  the  opportunity  of  reap 
ing  the  pleasure  which  springs  from  generous  deeds.'* 

"  Your  doubts  do  not  disturb  me,  Mr.  Rutledge.  It  is  not 
my  habit  to  judge  hastily ;  and  all  the  circumstances  of  this 
case  which  were  known  to  me  were  duly  weighed  and  consid 
ered  to  the  maturing  of  my  decision.  Now,  I  believe  you 
have  not  disclosed  any  new  facts,  nor  do  you  pretend  that  there 
are  any.  Therefore,  to  continue  in  the  forms  of  your  profes 
sion,  how  can  you  expect  me  to  restore  it  to  the  docket  ? 
And  into  that  future,  to  which  you  point,  I  have  neither  time 
nor  inclination  to  gaze ;  and  if  I  had  I  should  not  see  what 
you  imagine.  The  practical  mind  moves  on  steadily,  and 
sleeps  calmly,  amid  your  '  Gorgons,  Hydras,  and  Chimeras 
dire'!" 

"  You  may  so  look  upon  life  now,  Mr.  Featherstone,  as 
your  experience  is  only  of  the  opening  scenes  of  the  drama  ;  but 
if  you  attempt  to  play  out  the  play,  as  you  have  indicated,  you 
will  find  the  hand  of  fate  upon  the  curtain." 

On  the  following  morning  Rutledge  was  introduced  to  Park, 
21* 


246  THE     M  US  TEE,     OB 

for  the  purpose  of  taking  his  opinion,  and  retaining  him  in  a 
matter  which  had  been  committed  to  his  care,  as  suit  had  been 
threatened  in  the  city  courts.  Having  laid  open  the  case,  and 
examined  the  law  on  which  it  rested,  and  the  decisions  that 
illustrated  it,  they  soon  passed  into  conversation  on  the  rel 
ative  prosperity  of  the  north  and  south. 

"  I  know  that  nature  is  on  your  side,  for  a  fruitful  soil  is 
the  most  permanent  wealth,"  said  Park ;  "  yet  it  will  not  be 
unfolded  as  in  the  west,  for  the  just  stimulus  to  labor  is 
wanting." 

"  True  ;  give  the  Anglo-Saxon  liberty  to  do,  with  the  award 
of  the  fruit  of  his  doing,  and  he  will  clothe  the  waste  places 
of  the  earth  with  verdure,  and  build  up  institutions  to  protect 
him  in  the  enjoyment  of  his  possessions." 

"  Then  you  do  not  think  that  free  society  has  proved  a  fail 
ure  here  ?  " 

"  In  some  things  I  regard  it  as  eminently  successful.  The 
life  of  republicanism  is  visible  over  all  your  landscape,  while 
the  torpor  of  aristocracy  is  equally  apparent  on  ours.  Yet  in 
one  essential  particular  I  should  say  you  had  failed,  if  you 
were  not  continually  failing ;  that  is,  in  not  electing  your 
ablest  men  to  office.  In  this  we  have  kept  the  nobler  and  the 
wiser  course." 

"  I  concede  the  general  truth  of  that  charge.  The  derelic 
tion  springs,  in  a  measure,  from  our  great  prosperity ;  this 
offers  opportunity  for  the  unblushing  demagogue,  or  the  pos 
sessor  of  mere  money,  to  seize  that  which  the  people  should 
scorn  to  bestow  on  any  but  the  foremost  champions  of  their 
cause." 

"If  you  would  inculcate  that  doctrine,  and  live  up  to  it, 
you  would  be  incomparable.  But  as  it  is,  if  your  institutions 
breed  better  men  than  ours,  they  are  shorn  of  their  influence  ; 
and  you  have  as  bad  specimens  as  any  that  we  produce.  I 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  247 

called  upon  one  last  evening,  who  can  more  coolly  weigh 
money  and  misery  than  any  man  born  in  our  latitude.  Made 
wealthy  by  one  of  the  most  generous  and  gentle  of  men,  he  is 
using  the  estate  to  thwart  his  patron's  views  and  desolate  those 
who  trusted  in  him.  This  gentleman,  whose  name  was  Mer- 
ton,  had  a  quadroon  slave,  who,  in  every  thing  save  form,  was 
to  him  a  wife.  By  her  he  had  a  daughter,  who  has  a  son  by 
this  Mr.  Featherstone ;  yet  he  has  not  only  deserted,  but 
doomed  them,  and  will  convert  their  price  into  pleasure." 

"  I  am  astonished  at  the  capacity  of  man  for  evil,"  replied 
Park,  "  and  this  is  the  terrible  thing  in  your  laws,  that  they 
offer  such  opportunity  to  the  base.  Acting  so  oppressively 
towards  a  class,  is  there  no  hope  of  changing  these  statutes  ?  " 

"  Not  soon  ;  for  power  was  never  vested  in  a  more  vigorous 
or  a  more  united  body.  Only  as  it  exhausts  the  soil  will 
slavery  recede  —  annexing  new  territory  ere  it  forsakes  the 
old.  Did  not  the  southern  border  offer  centuries  of  conquest 
and  expansion  to  the  planter,  you  might  put  a  period  to  his 
domination,  for  the  bond  of  the  Union  is  stronger  than  the 
chain  of  the  slave ;  but  as  it  is,  he  will  only  march  on." 

"  Do  you  think  there  will  be  nothing  gained  by  agitating 
this  subject  ?  " 

"  Yes,  much.  It  will  keep  alive  the  spirit  of  liberty  among 
yourselves.  With  us  it  is  failing.  We  shall  lose  freedom  of 
speech  and  of  the  press  ;  they  will  be  surrendered  to  a  dread 
necessity.  And  you,  seeing  that  there  are  institutions  with 
which  they  cannot  long  coexist,  will  the  more  vigilantly  guard 
them." 

"  By  the  same  rule  the  principles  cannot  coexist  in  the  fed 
eral  constitution.  They  are  antagonistic  in  their  nature,  and 
the  knights  of  each  grow  fierce  in  their  jousting." 

"  Those  are  only  passages  at  arms  within  prescribed  lists ; 
the  Missouri  compromise  is  a  sufficient  barrier." 


248  THE    MUSTEK,    OR 

"  That  will  be  borne  down,  or  voluntarily  withdrawn,  on 
pretext  of  giving  a  free  field  to  the  combatants.  To  this  step 
I  have  no  objections.  For  the  mass  of  the  pioneer  emigrants 
to  the  territories  are  those  who  wield  the  axe,  guide  the  plough, 
and  aim  the  rifle  ;  and  by  the  very  nature  of  their  honest  and 
hardy  occupations,  and  the  consequent  simplicity  of  their  lives, 
they  are  the  indomitable  conservators  of  liberty.  Slavery  re 
quires  the  line  of  thirty -six  thirty,  not  Freedom  ;  and  if  ever 
southern  statesmen  are  so  unwise  as  to  trample  it  down  in 
their  struggle  for  dominion,  they  will  be  outflanked.  Yet,  in 
such  emergency,  the  federal  court  will  come  to  their  aid." 

"  That  can  hardly  be  possible.  What  are  your  data  for  the 
opinion  ?  " 

"  Knowing  that  the  possessors  of  disputed  power  never 
cease  to  fortify  their  position,  I  have  watched  the  executive 
and  senatorial  tendency  in  the  selection  of  judges,  and  so 
studied  their  characters,  that  I  am  satisfied  to  what  conclusion 
they  will  come  when  the  question  shall  be  presented.  They 
will  yet  declare  the  constitution  a  pro-slavery  instrument." 

"  Such  a  decision  would  be  a  greater  stigma  on  the  nation 
than  slavery  itself." 

"  It  may  be.  But  as  evils  they  bear  no  comparison  —  one 
is  real,  the  other  theoretical.  Nevertheless,  the  fact  is  inevi 
table,  and  the  sooner  it  is  solemnly  enunciated  the  better,  for 
then  the  American  people  must  see  on  what  false  courses  they 
have  been  steered ;  and  I  cherish  the  hope  that  the  ship  is  yet 
stanch  enough  to  breast  the  gale  and  draw  off  from  the  fatal 
shore." 

"  When  that  hour  comes  you  will  find  me  an  abolitionist," 
said  Rutledge,  rising  up  and  walking  the  room.  "  In  truth,  I 
am  now  in  favor  of  gradual  emancipation,  and  the  preparation 
which  is  necessary  to  make  it  a  benefit.  To  that  timely  result 
I  have  nothing  to  object.  Deprecating  only  rash  words  and 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  249 

rough  conflict,  I  accept  the  full  discussion,  hoping  thereby  that 
wisdom  may  unfold  the  way.  For  however  slavery  has  af 
fected  the  African,  it  seems  to  me  to  be  hurtful,  in  many  ways, 
to  the  Anglo-Saxon,  and  therefore  dangerous  to  the  nation. 
It  tends  to  degrade  all  hand  work,  and  so  menaces  the  repub 
lic  —  for  the  dignity  of  labor  is  the  corner  stone  of  Liberty. 
Hence  I  could  no  more  censure  a  laboring  man  for  being  an 
abolitionist  than  I  would  a  church  member  for  desiring  to  pre 
serve  the  purity  of  the  communion.  Indeed,  look  at  it  as  we 
may,  slavery  has  sad  prospects.  The  day  of  undisturbed  pos 
session  has  passed.  The  irresistible  diffusion  of  intelligence 
rebukes  the  master,  and  is  making  the  bondman  a  conspirator. 
The  institution  must  recede  from  the  light,  or  fall.  From  the 
very  first  it  has  shrunk  from  the  line  of  the  free  states  ;  and 
an  inherent  law,  which  we  can  neither  repeal  nor  successfully 
resist,  is  accelerating  its  steps." 

"  God  grant  it ! "  said  Park ;  "  for  as  I  read  history,  it 
seems  the  most  fatal  of  temptations.  Leading  to  ease,  to 
luxury,  and  to  lust,  it  has  shorn  the  locks  of  every  nation 
that  has  yielded  to  its  embrace.  If  it  reared  the  pyramids,  it 
caused  the  sands  of  the  desert  to  drift  around  them  in  de 
vastating  waves ;  overwhelming  a  strength  and  grandeur  the 
bones  and  dust  of  which,  as  they  are  slowly  exhumed,  amaze 
the  mind,  and  give  awe  and  mystery  to  the  name  of  Egypt. 
Where,  too,  are  the  sovereign  cities  which  were  set  like  gems 
in  the  Scriptures  of  the  Hebrews  ?  Their  kings  conquered 
but  to  enslave ;  and  over  their  ruins  some  solitary  column 
mourns.  So,  one  after  another,  it  dimmed  the  starred  states 
of  Greece,  and  finally  quenched  Rome  herself — that  glorious 
orb  which  so  long  gave  law  and  learning  to  the  world ! " 


250  THE     MUSTEE,     OR 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

4  To  bear  too  tender,  or  too  firm  a  heart, 

To  act  a  lover's,  or  a  Roman's  part  1 
Is  there  no  bright  reversion  in  the  sky 
For  those  who  greatly  think,  or  bravely  die? 

POPE. 

FEATHERSTONE  was  in  frequent  correspondence  with  his 
partners  in  New  Orleans,  the  subject  of  which  was  the  pro 
viding  of  means  to  meet  their  business  engagements,  rather 
than  an  account  of  profits;  in  fact,  the  traffic  had  not  paid 
since  leaving  the  management  to  others.  This  was  owing,  in 
part,  to  the  loss  of  his  sagacity ;  but  chiefly  to  the  low  state 
of  the  water  in  the  rivers,  which  had  prevented  the  crops 
from  coming  forward  by  the  boats  to  market.  With  such 
weight  on  his  mind,  it  was  certainly  an  unfavorable  moment 
to  make  an  appeal  to  his  liberality.  The  expenses,  also, 
which  he  had  incurred  by  settling  in  New  York,  together 
with  his  luxurious  mode  of  living,  were  surprisingly  large ; 
so  that,  on  looking  over  the  bills,  and  inquiring  of  Mrs. 
Featherstone  if  such  articles  had  been  actually  purchased, 
and  at  such  prices,  and  receiving,  as  he  generally  did,  a  con 
cise  and  affirmative  reply,  he  did  not  suppress  his  astonish 
ment,  not  to  say  indignation.  Perhaps  the  want  of  ready 
money  to  meet  them  caused  him  to  effervesce  more  than  the 
magnitude  of  the  outlay ;  yet  that  fault  he  could  not  well  lay 
at  the  door  of  another. 

Environed  by  such  circumstances,  and  occupied  with  such 
thoughts,  Featherstone  was  not  charitably  disposed — indeed, 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  251 

who  would  be  ?  'To  say  truth,  he  had  been  thinking,  the  very 
day  on  which  Rutledge  called,  how  he  should  "  realize  ; "  and, 
as  he  reasoned  with  a  single  eye  to  business,  he  came  to  the 
conclusion  which,  all  things  considered,  any  thrifty  trader 
might  —  namely,  that  it  would  hardly  be  right  to  draw  on  the 
commission  house  of  Featherstone  .&  Co.  So  he  was  com 
pelled  to  look  elsewhere  for  the  needed  funds ;  and  where 
would  he  more  naturally  turn  than  to  that  property  for  which 
Rutledge  had  appeared?  especially  as  it  was  unproductive, 
and  perhaps  deteriorating  —  at  least,  part  of  it  was  of  a  per 
ishable  nature. 

It  may  do  Featherstone  no  injury,  in  this  connection,  —  for 
the  same  reason  that  we  plead  drunkenness  in  extenuation  of 
murder,  —  to  say  that  he  belonged  to  a  class  of  people  who 
are  so  lavish  on  themselves,  that,  however  large  their  income, 
they  have  no  means  to  minister  to  the  wants  of  others.  It 
has  been  observed,  also,  that  such  persons  are  apt  to  become 
callous,  and  are  liable  to  that  peculiar  pride  which  seems  to 
live  entirely  on  the  surface  ;  and,  being  so  exposed,  it  is  quite 
likely  to  get  touched,  and  when  touched  it  winces,  for  proud 
flesh  is  sensitive.  Then,  too,  the  only  art  of  healing  which 
they  know  for  such  hurts  is  a  counter-irritant ;  so  they  touch 
back  again,  and,  it  may  be,  with  a  trifle  more  of  emphasis. 
Some  people  may,  and  I  am  aware  do,  denounce  this  way  of 
proceeding ;  but  they  can  scarcely  suspect  that  they  are  cru 
sading  against  a  long-prevailing  fashion  among  what  are 
termed  the  ornaments  of  society. 

Judging  from  this  trait  of  his  character,  perhaps  the  way  in 
whkh  Flora  had  met  Featherstone,  in  their  last  interview, 
might  be  still  remembered,  and  made  his  purpose  firmer,  al 
though  it  could  not  much  accelerate  action :  bills  payable  gave 
the  impulse,  means  available  determined  the  selection  ;  conse 
quently  the  appearance  of  Rutledge  had  no  other  effect  on 


252  THE     MUSTEE,    OR 

Featherstone,  for  the  moment,  than  to  hasten  the  consumma 
tion  of  the  thing  which  he  desired  to  avert. 

Soon  after  Featherstone  precipitated  himself  into  matri 
mony,  he  wrote  to  a  shrewd  acquaintance  in  New  Orleans, 
an  estate  broker,  constituting  him  his  agent,  and,  stating  to 
him  confidentially  all  his  interests  in  that  city,  requested  him, 
particularly,  to  have  an  eye  to  the  property  in  and  about  the 
house,  and  to  dispose  of  certain  parts  of  it  when  he  had 
opportunity. 

On  the  next  day  after  the  interview  with  Rut-ledge,  he  com 
municated  further  instructions,  to  wit :  "  See  if  you  can  find 
a  purchaser  for  the  house,  and  all  the  appurtenances  and  con 
tents,  at thousand  dollars ;  if  not,  you  may  strike  down 

towards  these  figures, ;  but  on  no  consideration  may 

you  descend  below  this  last  sum."  He  further  stated,  "  I  have 
no  doubt  that  the  property  would  bring  a  better  price  at  pub 
lic  auction,  as  there  are  some  articles  which  seem  calculated 
to  make  the  bidding  lively  and  the  market  buoyant ;  but  as  it 
might  swell  to  an  event,  and  so  get  into  the  newspapers,  or 
become  conspicuous  enough  for  Scandal  to  whet  her  beak 
upon,  I  prefer  to  avoid  that  method,  as  there  are  relatives  in 
your  town  who  might  take  offence  ;  and  I  would  rather  make 
some  sacrifice  than  risk  the  chance  of  their  displeasure.  There 
is,  also,  another  point  which  I  wish  you  to  take  into  consider 
ation  ;  it  is  this :  I  hear  a  great  deal  said  against  dividing  such 
families ;  and,  although  I  hold  that  every  admitted  feeling  will 
be  found  a  foe  to  the  '  peculiar  institution,'  if  you  can  do  it 
without  loss,  you  may  lump  them  ;  as  I  like  to  fall  in  with 
public  sentiment  so  far  as  I  can  conveniently. 

"  Now,  I  want  you  to  take  this  matter  vigorously  in  hand, 
as  I  must  have  the  funds  ;  so  you  see  that  the  terms  of  the 
sale  are  to  be  cash,  or  something  readily  convertible." 

On  receiving  the  above  orders,  the  broker  cast  about  in  his 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  253 

mind  who  there  was  among  his  acquaintance  —  and  he  knew 
nearly  every  one  in  the  city  who  possessed  the  means  for  such 
outlay  —  that  would  be  likely  to  desire  the  property.  So,  at 
length,  fixing  upon  two  or  three,  he  took  occasion  to  see  the 
gentlemen  in  the  course  of  the  day,  and  broached  the  subject. 

One  of  them,  a  young  man  who  had  lately  come  of  age  and 
into  possession  of  a  large  estate,  replied,  "  I  have  no  objection 
to  looking  at  the  goods,  if  Fed  will  go  too." 

Thus  appealed  to,  his  companion,  who  was  also  rich,  and 
recently  from  Paris,  said,  "  Now,  my  dear  fellow,  I  have  no 
idea  it  can  amuse  me  ;  it  must  be  doosed  tame,  I  fancy,  after 
what  I  have  seen  abroad.  Still,  Carlo,  my  dear  fellow,  if  you 
wish  for  a  sight,  I  will  exert  myself  to  please  you  ;  but  you 
mustn't  bore  me,  my  dear  fellow." 

"  Did  you  ever  know  me  to,  Fed  ?  besides,  you  are  turning 
auger  now !  " 

"  Ah,  Carlo,  that  is  mechanical  and  coarse ;  but  I  admit  the 
augury,  and  if  it  do  not  come  true,  my  dear  fellow,  we  will 
encore  the  play." 

"  At  what  hour  will  you  go  and  take  a  view  ?  "  inquired  the 
broker. 

"  It  is  very  immaterial  to  me,"  replied  Fed  ;  "  any  time  — 
now ;  then  I  shall  not  be  bored  with  the  memory  that  '  this 
thing's  to  do.' " 

"  No,  not  by  daylight,  Fed,"  cried  Carlo ;  "  let  it  be  after 
dark,  at  least." 

"  Well,  gentlemen,"  said  the  broker,  "  suppose  then  we  fix 
on  eight  o'clock  this  evening  ;  and  I  will  meet  you  here  with 
a  carriage,  you  know." 

To  this  they  assented.  And  at  the  appointed  time  they  met, 
and  rode  up  to  the  house  together. 

As  the  season  was  warm  —  it  was  near  the  last  of  April 
—  they  found  the  front  door  of  the  house  open.  Walking  in 
22 


254  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

without  ceremony,  they  met  Madam  in  the  hall,  who,  having 
heard  the  sound  of  a  carriage,  and  afterwards  voices,  was 
coming  forward  somewhat  hastily  to  close  the  door.  But  see 
ing  that  they  had  already  entered  in,  she  paused  and  said, 
"  Gentlemen,  I  think  that  you  must  have  mistaken  the 
house." 

"  O,  no,  Madam  ! "  replied  the  broker ;  "  we  are  perfectly 
aware  whose  house  'tis,  you  know  —  once  Merton's,  now  Feath- 
erstone's,  and,  perhaps,  to-morrow  it  may  belong  to  one  of 
these  gentlemen,  you  know." 

"I  do  not  know  you,"  said^Madam,  "and  we  have  no  desire 
to  see  strangers." 

"  Ah,  indeed !  allow  me,  then,  to  make  your  ladyship  ac 
quainted  with  the  agent  of  Anthony  Featherstone,  Esq. ; 
said  agent,  you  know,  havin'  full  powers  to  trade,  traffic,  sell, 
and  convey,  this  house  and  its  contents,  not  exceptin'  even 
your  sweet  self ! " 

But  as  she  stood  silent,  he  continued,  "  Come,  lead  the  way 
into  the  parlor ;  for  it  requires  more  light  than  you've  got 
here  to  ascertain  your  value,  you  know." 

Seeing  that  the  scene  could  not  be  avoided,  Madam  reluc 
tantly  returned  to  the  sitting  room,  with  the  gentlemen  follow 
ing  close  upon  her  steps.  She  went  sorrowing  and  thinking  of 
Flora,  and  of  the  dreadful  day  when  she  herself  had  stood  in 
the  market,  and  how  Merton  came  and  rescued  her  from 
distress  and  doom. 

Flora  had  been  silently  expecting  such  a  visit,  during  some 
days  ;  for  she  had  gathered  from  that  fruitless  search  for  the 
will,  and  from  the  manner  and  words  of  Rutledge,  the  con 
viction  that  such  an  event  was  impending.  Being  so  im 
pressed,  when  she  heard  the  voices  in  the  hall,  she  felt  that 
the  crisis  was  approaching ;  and,  when  the  rude  speech  of  the 
broker  fell  upon  her  ear,  she  rose  up  and  stood  upon  the 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  255 

hearthstone,  pale  -  but  calm,  and  fixed  her  piercing  glance  on 
the  leader  of  the  group  as  they  entered. 

The  broker  flinched  a  little  under  its  flash,  but,  turning  to 
the  inspectors,  he  said,  "  This  is  the  flower  of  the  family,  gen 
tlemen,  and  has  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  and  desirable  of  her  class,  you  know,  and  not  to  be 
had  for  money  often,  either." 

Madam,  advancing,  took  a  place  beside  her  daughter,  and 
stood  there  more  agitated  and  fearful,  yet  as  silent  as  she. 

Carlo  and  his  elegant  friend  were  there  for  amusement, 
rather  than  with  any  serious  intentions  of  purchasing ;  con 
sequently  they  stood  like  actors  who  had  forgotten  their  parts, 
and  looked  frequently  towards^  the  door  as  if  they  were 
anxious  for  a  prompter. 

But  the  broker  had  called  in  the  way  of  business,  and  felt 
that  he  had  a  handsome  commission  depending  on  the  sale  ; 
so  he  said  to  Flora,  who  still  awed  them  by  her  bearing, 
"  Don't  you  feel  a  leetle  higher  than  usual,  to-night  ?  Now  I 
reckon  your  flag  is  rather  sarcy,  considerin'  how  no  nation,  not 
even  Hayti,  you  know,  has  acknowledged  your  independence." 

"The  nation  or  the  individual,"  replied  Flora,  in  tones  so 
firm  that  Fed  and  Carlo  trembled,  "  that  is  determined  to 
defend  her  inherent  rights  to  the  last  gasp,  has  but  little  need 
of  the  recognition  of  power." 

"  If  you  pitch  your  tune  that  high,"  said  the  broker, 
"  there'll  be  some  mighty  sharp  notes  afore  the  music  is  over, 
you  know." 

"  And  I  have  no  doubt  that  there  will  be  base  ones,  also," 
retorted  Flora,  "  if  you  stoop  to  carry  out  the  instructions 
of  your  employer,  or  even  if  you  only  follow  the  inclination 
of  your  own  nature." 

"  Your  spite,"  replied  the  broker,  "  can't  hurt  my  reputa- 

MQ,  you  know.     But " 


256  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

"  No,  I  should  think  not !  as  your  expression  shows  that  no 
act  could  add  infamy  to  it ! "  said  Flora,  interrupting. 

u  But  your  owner  being  absent,"  continued  the  broker,  "  I 
am  bound  to  say,  in  the  presence  of  these  gentlemen,  that  he 
is  liberal  in  his  instructions,  and  more  considerate  than  is  usual 
in  such  cases,  you  know." 

"  Then  he  is  a  coward,  as  well  as  a  knave,"  replied  Flora, 

"  I  shall  treat  him  to  your  opinion,"  said  the  broker ;  "  per 
haps  he  may  vally  it,  from  an  old  lover,  you  know." 

"  You  will  earn  my  thanks  by  so  doing,"  said  Flora,  "  and 
you  may  say  to  him,  at  the  same  time,  that  he  would  not  dare 
to  lift  a  finger,  or  so  much  as  breathe  a  rude  word  in  this 
direction,  if  Mr.  Merton  still  lived.  If,  in  becoming  heir  to 
my  father's  estate,  he  has  become  master  of  all  whom  he 
loved  only  to  crush  them,  tell  him  to  look  for  a  day  of  account 
ing  ;  tell  him  if  he  had  only  been  just  —  for  generosity  he 
cannot  feel  —  the  boon  would  have  so  surpassed  my  expecta 
tion  as  to  have  rolled  the  blood  over  me  in  a  flood  of  shame,  . 
for  thinking  that  I  could  have  so  wronged  him  as  to  doubt  his 
fealty  to  so  bald  a  virtue  !  And  tell  him  that  I  know  him,  — 
know  him  so  well  thaC  had  he  shown  any  disposition  less  rabid 
than  revenge,  it  would  have  overstrode  my  comprehension, — 
and  that  I  even  fear  him  to  be  too  callous  and  corrupt  for  the 
stings  of  remorse  to  torment  and  terrify  into  better  courses." 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  the  broker,  after  a  minute  so  long  that 
the  clock  seemed  to  stop  after  each  tick,  "  we  will  now  go  over 
the  house,  if  you'd  like  to  inspect  it?" 

"  I  should  like  to  see  the  outside  of  it,  doosedly  !  "  replied 
Fed. 

"  So  should  I,"  said  Carlo,  "and  that  right  soon  ! " 

Thereupon,  the  pleasure-seekers  started  for  the  door ;  and 
as  the  broker  turned  to  follow,  he  growled  to  Flora,  "The 
next  customer  that  I  bring  here,  if  I  don't  damn'dly  mistake, 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  257 

will  make  you  wish  you'd  received  these  a  leetle  sweeter,  you 
know!" 

As  the  surprise  party  seated  themselves  in  the  carriage  and 
drove  away,  the  agent  broke  the  silence,  by  saying,  "  Now  ye 
see,  gentlemen,  what  edication  does  for  sich  articles  —  the 
A  B  C's  are  rank  pison  to  the  institution,  you  know." 

"  It  is  all  a  doosed  bore,  'pon  honor ! "  I  give  you  my 
word,  Carlo,  my  dear  fellow,  I  never  was  so  deeply  bored  in 
my  life  —  never  ! " 

"  Now  don't  fret  at  me,  Fed ;  I  wanted  to  leave  as  much  as 
you  did  ;  but  I  couldn't  help  pitying  the  girl." 

"  I  did  not  see  any  thing  to  pity,  except  my  own  poor  ears  ; 
for  the  play  is  a  bore  any  time,  a  doosed  bore,  my  dear  fellow ! 
our  set  in  Paris,  la  belle  Paris,  voted  it  a  bore  —  if  she  had 
only  sung  it,  I  might  have  been  amused,  as  that  refines  and 
tones  down  the  horrid  ranting,  my  dear  fellow — it  does  exces 
sively  ! " 

"  It  was  a  little  too  dramatic,  Fed,  I  must  admit ;  and  then 
we  had  no  opera  glasses  to  hide  behind.  What  is  the  matter 
with  her,  broker  ?  " 

"  I'm  a  trifle  puzzled  myself,  you  know,"  replied  the  agent ; 
"  but  they  have  been  livin'  here,  considerable  of  a  spell,  putty 
much  as  they'd  a  mind  to,  you  know,  and  I've  near  about  con 
cluded  that  the  gal  has  picked  up  a  lover ;  her  actions  kind 
o'  let  it  out,  you  know." 

"  Doosed  likely,  and  very  lately  too,  by  the  way  she  gave 
tongue  !  'Pon  honor,  I  never  was  so  bored  before  in  my  life — 
never ! " 

"  She  expects  some  backin'  from  somewhere,"  said  the 
broker  ;  "  and  the  lover  may  have  told  her  how  he'd  buy  her 
when  she's  put  up  for  sale,  you  know.  There  must  be  some- 
thin'  of  that  sort  to  make  her  so  uppish  and  offish,  you  know ; 
but  I'll  teach  her  that  the  string  of  her  kite  is  in  my  hand ! 
22* 


258  THE    MUSTBB,     OB 

And,  gentlemen,  although  this  has  been  rather  a  sink-pocket 
job  to  me,  you  know,  still  I'm  most  disapp'inted  on  account  of 
its  'mountin'  to  no  great  fun  for  you,  you  know." 

"  It  is  all  a  bore,  a  doosed,  horrid  bore  !  Carlo,  my  dear 
fellow,  let  us  alight  at  the  opera ;  for  I  feel  nearly  broke 
down  under  the  weight  of,  you  know  !  YOU  KNOW  !  I  do,  my 
dear  fellow,  'pon  honor  ! " 

In  a  few  moments  after,  the  carriage  drew  up  before  the 
French  opera  house;  and  our  gentlemen  alighting,  "Bore, 
doosed  bore  ! "  wandered  back,  and  into  the  coach,  when  they 
disappeared. 

As  the  driver  closed  the  door  and  mounted  to  his  seat,  the 
broker  said  between  his  teeth,  "  Of  all  damn'd  bores,  a  squirt 
who  has  been  three  months  in  Paris  is  the  most  sappy !  Now 
that  spooney  reckons  he's  French !  and  yit  to  be  a  French 
man  is  to  be  a  game  cock !  while  he's  nothin'  but  a  squab, 
with  the  pinfeathers  all  a  hangin'  to  him,  you  kn — !  " 

While  the  carriage  was  rolling  away  from  the  house  of  the 
slaves,  Madam  went  out  and  closed  the  street  door ;  and, 
when  she  returned,  Flora  inquired,  "  Is  there  any  thing  re 
maining,  mother,  that  you  fear  to  lose  ?  " 

But  as  Madam  did  not  reply,  Flora  continued,  "  Yet  it  may 
be  well  to  shut  out  even  the  free  air,  that  we  may  not  hear  it 
sigh  around  us.  Do  you  think  that  the  worst  is  to  come, 
mother  ?  " 

"  There  can  be  no  after-stroke  for  me ;  but  you,  O  my 
dear  daughter,  it  may  touch  you  further." 

"  Dear  mother,  weep  not  for  me,  fear  not  for  me ;  I  have 
measured  the  height  and  depth  of  it,  in  thought,  and  have 
marked  out  my  course.  They  have  but  little  to  fear,  mother, 
Mrho  do  not  fear  death." 

Long  they  communed ;  and  mournful  and  low  were  their 
words  as  they  wandered  through  the  once  sunny,  but  now 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  259 

waste  places,  of  memory ;  and,  at  length,  turned  even  to  the 
future  with  no  cringing  weakness.  So,  late  in  the  night,  they 
parted  with  a  kiss  to  their  respective  chambers. 

Flora  retired  to  weep  over  her  child,  and  pray  for  his  de 
liverance,  as  she  lay  down  beside  him  and  drew  his  cheek  to 
her  bosom  ;  when,  after  a  time,  sleep  kindly  came  to  take  her 
from  the  dim  eclipse  of  hope.  It  was  late  in  the  morning 
when  she  arose  and  went  down  ;  yet  seeing  no  sign  of  having 
been  preceded  by  her  mother,  she  ascended  to  her  chamber, 
touched  the  door,  and  called,  "  Mother  ! " 

In  a  moment  after  calling  again  and  receiving  no  answer, 
she  lifted  the  latch  and  entered  —  entered  to  find  a  breathless 
stillness  !  to  find  her  over-wearied  mother  taking  a  secure  rest ; 
for  she  had  passed  beyond  the  oppressor's  power,  and  was  cold 
even  to  the  touch  of  filial  affection. 

Was  it  a  visitation  of  Providence  ?  Who  can  search  so  deeply 
as  to  say  that  it  was  not  ?  although  in  the  centre  of  the  room 
there  stood  a  brazier  containing  ashes  and  some  half-consumed 
charcoals,  which  revealed  the  design,  as  did  the  lifeless  form 
the  successful  termination.  There,  indeed,  forever  still,  lay  the 
hand  which  had  executed ;  but  the  guiding  hand ! 

"Son  of  St.  Louis,"  said  a  priest  of  Holy  Church  —  who 
believed  in  her  power  to  forgive  sin  —  over  one  of  the  out 
cast  monarchs  of  France,  in  his  dying  moment  —  "  Son  of  St. 
Louis,  ascend  to  heaven  !  " 

"  Daughter  of  a  slave,"  said  a  layman,  —  who  believed  in 
God,  —  when  he  saw  the  more  than  "maimed  rites"  of  this 
burial,  "  Daughter  of  a  slave,  ascend  to  the  bosom  of  the  In 
finite  Mercy." 


260  THE    MUSTEE,    OB 


CHAPTER    XXYI. 

If  I  stoop 

Into  n  dark,  tremendous  sea  of  cloud, 
It  is  but  for  a  time ;  I  press  God's  lamp 
Close  to  my  breast  —  its  splendor,  soon  or  late, 
Will  pierce  the  gloom.  BROWNING. 

THE  broker  was  something  startled  when  he  learned  the 
fact  of  Madam's  death,  and  ascertained  the  probable  cause ; 
but,  beyond  that,  the  catastrophe  made  no  sensation,  for,  her 
life  and  society  having  been  limited  to  the  walls  of  the  house, 
so  the  mourning  was  confined  there.  Even  curiosity  about 
the  nature  of  the  disease,  or  the  sudden  dying,  was  not  awak 
ened,  although  a  few  persons  who  lived  nearest  had  seen  the 
deceased  at  the  window,  or  the  door,  on  the  previous  day,  as 
they  were  aware  that  people  who  are  very  unwell  may  make 
such  appearance ;  while  they  could  remember  that  she  had 
long  looked  sad  and  worn,  so  they  thought  that  she  might  have 
declined  into  her  grave.  Thus  a  familiar  form  had  passed 
from  their  sight,  to  soon  fade  out  of  their  memory. 

No  enlightened  jury  was  called  to  investigate  the  case,  and 
gather  and  collate  the  facts,  to  merge  their  total  ignorance  of 
the  cause  and  motive  of  the  tragic  act  in  the  word  "  insanity," 

which 

"  Resolves  all  doubts  so  eloquently  well." 

In  consequence  of  this  pecuniary  loss  to  that  portion  of 
Featherstone's  estate  which  had  been  intrusted  to  the  broker's 
sagacity,  he  became  anxious  to  dispose  of  the  residue  imme 
diately  —  fearing  that  "  insanity  "  might  be  epidemic,  and  still 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  261 

further  reduce  the  value  of  the  property.  Yet,  in  urging  the 
sale  to  a  conclusion,  he  did  not  forget  how  sharply  he  had 
been  bearded  by  Flora ;  and  he  called  it  to  mind  the  more 
readily  because  that  he  felt  it  to  be  in  his  power  to  repay,  by 
finding  a  purchaser  who,  he  knew,  would  be  disgusting  and 
relentless.  And,  in  this  connection,  he  bethought  him  that 
probably  Bill  Frink  might  fancy  the  property,  as  some  time 
before  he  had  said  to  him,  while  drinking  together,  in  reply  to 
a  remark  which  he  had  made,  "  Wai,  if  you  git  any  tasty  ar 
ticle  in  the  yaller  line,  I'd  jist  like  to  inspect  it." 

Thinking  over  the  matter,  he  was  very  soon  satisfied  that 
this  would  suit  him,  as  he  believed  that  he  could  make  it  ap 
pear  to  be  a  good  investment,  at  the  lowest  price  named  by 
Featherstone,  after  deducting  the  market  value  of  Madam. 

Acting  on  his  thought,  he  met  Bill  that  day,  and,  drawing 
him  into  one  of  the  saloons,  called  for  drink,  and  over  it  talked 
of  the  estate  on  sale. 

When  Bill  had  heard  him  through,  he  said,  "  I  reckon  as 
how  it  tastes  a  leetle  too  strong  of  the  money  for  my  use." 

"  But  you  must  look  at  the  real  estate,  you  know ;  for  I 
think  it  is  worth  every  picayune  he  asks  for  the  whole 
concern." 

"  Now  don't  du  that,  for  I  shan't  think  your  woman  worth 
nothin'  if  she  ain't  high  cost ;  as,  somehow,  the  vally  of  every 
thing  seems  to  me  to  be  in  dollars  ;  and  I'd  like  to  know  how 
you're  goin'  to  reckon  it  in  any  other  way  ?  for  nothin'  else 
has  got  the  vally  stomped  on  to  it." 

"  Well,  that's  good  enough  for  another  drink  ;  you  are  a 
practical  man,  Mr.  Frink,  and  I  must  give  in  that  your  way, 
arter  all,  is  the  only  practical  way  of  gittin'  at  it ;  the  gov 
ernment  stamp  is  the  thing,  you  know." 

"  'Tis  that.  But  what  color 's  your  beauty  ?  Du  she  come 
up  putty  well  to  sugar,  or  run  mostly  to  molasses  ?  " 


262  THE    MUST  BE,    OB 

"  She's  a  mustee,  you  know,"  replied  the  broker. 

"  A  musty  woman  !     Du  ye  call  that  are  a  good  sort  ?  " 

"  O,  yes,  they  bring  the  tallest  prices,  for  they're  paler  than 
quadroons,  you  know,  and  sometimes  pass  off  for  white,  you 
know,  where  there  ain't  no  good  judges  ;  and  you've  on'y  to 
say  that  they're  Spanish  to  travel  with  'em  or  go  with  'em  any 
where  ye  like,  you  know." 

"  That's  handy ;  for  I  mought  want  to  carry  a  handsome 
piece  up  north,  sometime  or  other ;  I  guess  I  could  come  it 
over  'em  some." 

"  It  would  be  slick  ;  and  you'd  be  hard  to  beat,  Bill ;  and  I 
reckon  she'd  do  you  exactly,  you  know." 

"  Wai,  if  you  say  so,  I'll  jist  look  over  the  goods,  and  then 
if  we  can  hit  any  where  near  in  figurin',  I  shouldn't  wonder  if 
it's  a  go." 

"That's  the  talk,  Bill.  Will  ye  take  a  turn  round  there 
this  evenin'  ?  " 

"  Not  I.     I  takes  daylight  to  du  my  business  in." 

"  Well,  you  be  cunnin',  Bill.     Then  s'pose  we  go  now  ?  " 

"  Agreed.     Off  hand 's  the  word,  by  thunder ! " 

"  Them's  my  sentiments,  arter  we've  had  another  '  smile,' 
you  know." 

When  they  had  taken  their  drink  they  departed  on  their 
errand,  caring  for  no  wrong,  however  deep,  if  it  stood  within 
the  clear  and  complete  sanction  of  the  law. 

In  all  his  pleasures  Bill  had  a  keen  eye  to  cost ;  according 
ly,  when  they  arrived  at  the  house,  he  preferred  to  make  a 
thorough  examination  of  the  premises  outside  before  looking 
at  the  interior. 

When  they  had  completed  that  part  of  the  review,  they  en 
tered  in,  and,  proceeding  up  stairs,  inspected  all  the  chambers 
and  furniture ;  then  descending,  they  went  through  below  in 
the  same  manner,  until  they  came  to  the  sitting  room ;  on 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  li;j3 

reaching  which  the  broker,  in  a  suppressed  voice,  said,  "  We 
shall  probably  find  the  woman  in  here,  you  know." 

"  Wai,  she  ain't  dangerous,  is  she  ?  Haven't  got  her  chained 
up,  have  ye  ?  " 

"  O  nothin'  o'  that  kind,"  the  broker  replied ;  but  he  invol 
untarily  knocked  at  the  door. 

"  That's  smart  now.  Du  ye  own  any  goods  that  ye're 
afeard  on  ?  "  when,  lifting  the  latch,  he  pushed  the  door  wide, 
and  they  stalked  in,  the  broker  falling  to  the  rear. 

Flora  sat  with  a  book  in  her  hand,  from  which  she  did  not 
raise  her  eyes,  and  Fred  stood  as  though  he  had  approached 
the  door  for  the  purpose  of  opening  it ;  but  seeing  them  enter, 
he  backed  away  towards  his  mother,  though  without  haste, 
seeming  rather  to  dislike  the  appearance  of  the  intruders  than 
to  have  any  fear  of  them. 

"  How  d'e  du,  marm  ?  "  said  Bill,  in  a  tone  of  voice  which 
he  thought  was  tender  and  insinuating.  "  You  live  in  a  fust- 
rate  tenement  here,  marm  ;  and  tall  furniture  you've  got  tu  ; 
you  must  have  rather  a  swell  go  on  it.  Is  that  are  boy 
yourn  ?  " 

But  as  Flora  did  not  reply,  he  continued,  "  Wai,  mum's  the 
word  ;  I  understand  it,  I  du  ;  'nough  said,  marm  ;  silence  says 
consent ;  all  right,  my  duckey ! "  and  looking  round  at  the 
same  time,  he  saw  the  sideboard,  and  nudging  the  broker,  he 
stepped  up  to  it,  opened,  and,  taking  out  a  bottle,  drew  the 
cork  by  his  teeth  with  two  or  three  twists  of  his  head,  then 
pressing  it  to  his  nose  so  as  to  take  the  odor,  he  nodded  and 
winked  to  the  broker,  and  saying,  "  Here's  luck,  my  leetle 
beauty,"  tippled  off  something  of  the  contents,  as  a  large 
bunch  in  his  bare  red  neck  moved  up  and  down  several  times, 
like  the  wattles  of  an  old  gobbler  when  he  spreads  his  tail 
and  prates  of  his  domestic  consequence. 

Having  thus  quenched  his  thirst  for  the  moment,  and  for- 


264  THE      MUSTEK,      OR 

tified  his  courage,  Bill  wiped  his  mouth  with  the  back  of  his 
hand,  and,  passing  the  bottle  to  the  broker,  drew  a  chair  up 
beside  Flora,  and  seating  himself,  said,  "  Du  ye  know  how  to 
read,  marm  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  and  I  believe  that  gift  cannot  be  stolen  or  torn 
from  me." 

"  That's  so.  Now  du  ye  s'pose,  marm,  as  how  ye  could 
larn  me  some  of  the  higher  branches  ?  for  all  I  lack  is  edica- 
tion.  I  haven't  got  none  o'  that,  nohow  ;  if  I  on'y  had,  I  could 
beat  the  man  what  made  the  college.  I  s'pose  ye  know  how 
to  turn  out  all  sorts  of  fancy  things,  marm ;  can  ye  du  darnin' 
and  sich  like?" 

"  I  can,  and  I  am  willing  to  work  ;  indeed,  I  would  not 
shrink  from  the  hardest  labor,  if  by  it  I  could  support  myself 
and  my  child." 

The  broker  had  set  back  the  bottle  where  Bill  found  it,  and 
thinking  the  pause  opportune  and  fearing  further  discussion, 
said,  "  If  you're  ready,  Mr.  Frink,  we'll  take  leave  now." 

"  Why,  what's  your  hurry  ?  I  want  to  du  a  leetle  courtin' 
fast." 

"But  I  must  go,  you  know,  though  yon  can  stay  if  ye  like." 

"  Wai,  if  you're  a  goin',  I  s'pose  I  must  go  along  tu,"  said 
Bill,  grinning.  So  gathering  himself  up  and  saying,  "  Good 
day,  marm,"  he  shambled  out  in  a  gait  as  unnatural  as  the 
tone  of  his  voice  had  been  affected  ;  for,  conscious  of  his  own 
meanness  and  of  her  superiority,  he  became  a  lie,  hoping 
thereby  to  appear  more  lovely  in  her  eyes  —  a  frequent  per 
formance  of  many  other  pretenders. 

When  they  had  emerged  from  the  house,  and  were  moving 
down  the  street,  the  broker  said,  "  Well,  Mr.  Frink,  how  do 
matters  and  things  strike  ye  ?  " 

"  Putty  fair,"  Bill  replied,  in  his  natural  manner,  which  he 
had  then  recovered.  "  The  gal  is  a  brick,  a  reg'lar  brick,  a 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  .      265 

pressed  brick,  but  I  don't  care  any  thing  about  that;  and  Bill 
laughed  at  the  conceit,  and  the  broker  joined  in,  as  he  thought 
the  trade  hopeful ;  "  and  she  looks  smooth  enough  for  any 
part  of  a  house,  and  talks  as  how  she  was  most  willin'  to  be 
stuck  in  the  chimney  corner.  Yet  Bill  don't  quite  swaller  it, 
for  it's  gammon,  by  thunder !  for  I'll  bet  she'll  cry  half  the 
time,  if  she  can't  have  fifty  dollars'  worth  of  things  a  month ; 
and  she'll  throw  away  more  gloves  in  a  year  or  so  than  I  ever 
had.  Now,  I  don't  say,  mind  ye,  as  how  Bill  Frink  can't 
afford  it,  but  I  du  say  he'd  better  buy  cheaper  colors." 

"  If  'twas  'cordin'  to  instructions  to  put  this  property  at  pub 
lic  sale,  you  know,  Mr.  Frink,  I  wouldn't  ask  you  or  any  man 
to  buy  it  at  the  figures  I've  chalked,  you  know ;  but  the  owner 
hasn't  yit  so  instructed." 

"I  s'pose  I  can  make  ye  a  bid,  if  that'll  du  ye  any 
good." 

"  I'm  cornered  as  to  price,  you  know,  Mr.  Frink." 

"  Sartain ;  I  reckon  I  know  all  about  that  —  I've  been 
there.  But  I'll  give  ye  —  now  I'm  goin'  to  make  my  best 
offer,  and  let  that  be  the  end  on't  —  I'll  give  ye thou 
sand  dollars,  and  that'll  more  than  clean  me  out ;  it  will,  by 
thunder ! " 

"It's  no  use  to  talk,  you  know,  Mr.  Frink,  onless  you 
come  somewhere  near  my  limits  —  so  I'm  afraid  we  can't 
trade." 

"  Wai,  I'll  give  ye  five  hundred  more,  but  not  another  pic 
ayune  ;  and  Bill  Frink 's  a  fool  to  throw  away  so  much  as  that 
on  fancy." 

"  That's  no  price,  you  know ;  so  you  can't  want  the  prop 
erty  much,  Mr.  Frink." 

"  Wai,  what  du  ye  say  to  two  hundred  and  fifty  more  ?  but 
not  another  cent,  by  thunder ! " 

"  Mr.  Frink,  you've  come  so  near  I  don't  mind  namin',  pri-* 
23 


266  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

vately,  ye  know,  his  price  to  ye,  which  is  two  hundred  and 
fifty  more  than  your  last  bid,  and  if  you'll  toe  that  are  mark 
the  property  is  yourn." 

To  this  he  soon  agreed,  although  he  had  offered  five  hun 
dred  more  in  the  outset  than  was  necessary  to  become  the 
purchaser ;  but  the  broker  saw  that  he  was  in  for  it,  and  so 
he  stuck  him  for  another  thousand. 

In  the  course  of  a  day  or  two  the  papers  were  drawn,  the 
money  paid,  and  the  property  conveyed  —  thus  Bill  Frink 
became  the  lawful  owner  of  the  house  and  home  of  Rufus 
Merton,  and  of  all  his  lineal  blood.  "  To  what  base  uses  we 
may  return,  Horatio  ! " 

The  business  was  completed  on  the  premises,  when  Bill 
took  possession  and  the  keys.  Thereupon  the  broker  said  to 
Flora,  "  You're  now,  together  with  the  boy,  house,  &c.,  you 
know,  the  property  of  Mr.  Frink,  here  present,  and  I  hope 
you'll  have  a  pleasant  time  on't." 

On  this,  Bill  grinned,  and  said,  "  Ye  won't  be  so  kind  o' 
lonesome  now,  marm,  as  I  shall  take  a  turn  round  here,  in 
the  evenin',  for  a  leetle  tender  talk,  and  jist  to  see  if  you're 
willin'  to  make  yourself  useful.  You'll  love  me  when  ye 
come  to  know  me  —  all  on  'em  du." 

But  Flora  making  no  reply,  the  gentlemen  departed. 

The  broker  was  well  satisfied  with  his  success ;  and  Bill 
felt  nicely,  for  every  thing  appeared  to  run  smooth,  and,  as 
he  thought,  wore  a  prosperous  look.  So  he  invited  the  broker 
to  dine  with  him,  and  as  ho  furnished  an  abundance  of  liquor, 
they  both  drank  deeply,  and  were  warmed  into  a  confession  of 
their  true  natures  without  disguise  —  yea,  with  pride;  thereby 
revealing  a  moral  pollution  well  nigh  past  hope,  as  it  could  be 
seen  that  they  were  already  condemned  and  burning  in  the 
fire  of  a  sensual  hell. 

In  the  course  of  the  evening  Frink  came  to  his  house  ; 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  207 

when,  fumbling  some  time  with  his  key,  he  at  length  got 
the  door  open,  and  entering,  found  Flora  alone,  with  a  book 
in  her  hand,  and  occupying  her  usual  place  in  the  sitting 
room. 

Fred  had  gone  to  sleep  in  her  arms,  some  time  before,  when 
she  had  carried  him  to  another  room  than  her  own,  and  laid 
him  in  bed  without  awaking  him.  She  had  done  this  because 
she  was  expecting  invasion  ;  and  having  completed  her  other 
preparation,  she  sat,  when  Bill  came  in,  sadly  but  firmly 
awaiting  the  assault. 

•  Frink  took  a  chair,  and,  seating  himself  beside  Flora,  said, 
"  I  hope  "you're  glad  to  see  me,  ducky  ;  ha'n't  been  cryin'  for 
me,  have  ye  ? "  And,  as  a  fitting  conclusion  of  these  ques 
tions,  he  put  out  his  arm  as  though  it  were  his  intention  to 
encircle  her  neck  ;  at  which  she  drew  back,  and  gave  him  a 
glance  as  sharp  as  a  knife.  Feeling  the  cut,  Bill  desisted, 
apparently  surprised,  and  asked,  "Ye  ain't  a  goin'  to  act  offish, 
be  ye  ?  Now,  I  wouldn't,  ducky  ;  for  I  reckon  it  won't  clu  no 
good,  no  how,  'cause  I've  bought  and  paid  for  ye  ;  so  I  guess 
you're  mine,  marm,  in  the  tightest  kind  of  a  way." 

u  Bought  me !  you've  bought  me !  You  may,  indeed, 
have  made  the  poor  purchase  of  this  body ;  yet  I  deny,  and 
utterly  scorn,  the  title  which  you  hold  for  any  purpose  but 
labor." 

"  Now,  don't  ye  think  you'd  better  hold  your  bosses  ?  I 
want  ye  to  understand,  I  didn't  buy  ye  to  work,  my  duck  !  I 
can  git  three  niggers  for  what  you  cost  that  will  du  six  times 
more  luggin'  nor  you  could.  So  you'd  sooner  go  in  for  scour- 
in'  knives  than  pleasure,  would  ye  ?  Wai,  you're  a  good  'un  ! 
Now,  how  many  new  gounds  will  it  take  to  satisfy  ye,  my 
ducky  ?  Come,  say  it,  for  I  feel  mighty  liberal  now,  and 
you'd  better  strike  while  the  iron's  hot ;  so  out  with  it, 
now,  right  off,  for  it  makes  me  kind  o'  savage  to  wait  j  and 


268  THE    MUSTEE,    OK 

you'll  never  find  an  easier  time  to  git  round  Bill  than 
now." 

"  I  have  said  that  I  am  willing  to  labor ;  and  I  shall  be 
ready  with  to-morrow's  rising  sun  to  apply  myself  to  any 
work,  however  hard,  to  which  you  have  the  power  to  con 
demn  me." 

"  Now,  ain't  you  actin'  putty  considerable  tall  for  so  thin  a 
house,  marm  ?  Now,  don't  fancy  you're  goin'  to  put  Bill 
Frink  off  with  that  sort  o'  stuff!  Du  ye  see  any  thing  green 
enough  about  me  for  squash  bugs  to  eat  ?  P'r'aps  ye  think 
Bill  ain't  sharp,  and  can't  guess  what  the  case  is !  May  be 
somebody  '11  rush  in  to  help  ye  !  won't  ye  call  'im  now,  if 
he's  round,  and  would  like  a  lively  turn  ?  Or  if  ye  want  to 
slip  out  and  run,  you  sh'll  have  a  fair  start,  for  Bill's  got  two 
of  the  sweetest  dogs  as  ever  barked  on  track  ;  and  he's  fond 
o'  huntin',  tu,  'specially  when  the  game  '11  pay  —  now,  wouldn't 
ye  like  to  try  it  ?  " 

To  this  Flora  made  no  reply ;  but  rising  up,  and  taking  a 
light,  she  moved  towards  the  door. 

"  Where  'bouts  ye  goin'  now  ?  ain't  off  for  good,  be  ye,  my 
beauty  ?  " 

"  I  am  going  to  my  own  room  ;  for  I  have  too  long  en 
dured  words  against  which  I  have  the  power  of  closing  my 
ear." 

"  O,  wal,  that's  all  right ;  we'd  as  good's  go  to  bed  now  as 
any  time  ;  "  and  he  straightened  up  to  follow  her. 

Turning  on  him,  Flora  gave  the  red  and  half-intoxicated 
giant  a  look  which  made  him  quail,  for  an  instant ;  but  he 
rallied  soon,  and  said,  — 

"  Go  on,  my  duck  —  don't  trouble  yourself  to  wait  for  me  ; 
go  up  to  the  bower  ;  I'll  be  round  there  in  time." 

Flora's  cheek  paled,  yet  her  form  visibly  dilated,  as  she 
moved,  silently  away,  and  ascended  to  her  room,  with  no  sign 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  269 

of  haste ;  and,  without  closing  the  door,  she  placed  the  lamp 
on  the  table,  when  she  paused  a  moment,  as  if  plunged  in 
thought  or  hushed  with  prayer.  But  the  spell  was  broken 
by  footsteps ;  when,  looking  up,  she  saw  Bill  approaching  to 
enter.  On  which,  moving  quickly  towards  him,  she  thrust 
her  hand  into  her  bosom,  when  a  gleaming  dagger  flashed 
across  his  eye  to  be  poised  high  and  threatening,  as  she  said 
to  the  invading  miscreant,  "  Come,  if  you  think  it  wise !  yet 
we  cannot  breathe  the  air  of  this  room  together  an  instant  in 
peace  ! " 

"  Ah,  ha  ! "  growled  Bill,  nothing  daunted,  as  he  drew  forth 
a  broad,  heavy  bowie  knife  ;  "  that's  a  game  which  two  on  us 
can  play  at !  " 

"  Then  strike ! "  cried  Flora,  as  she  clutched  her  left  hand 
into  the  bosom  of  her  dress  and  rent  it  deep  down,  while  she 
drew  towards  him.  "  Strike  !  for  I  prefer  your  steel  to  your 
smile.  Strike  !  and  then  I  shall  be  free  !  but  pass  not  that 
door  for  any  other  purpose." 

On  this,  Frink  slunk  back  a  step  in  astonishment,  and  said, 
"  You  don't  want  to  die,  du  ye  ?  " 

"  Of  what  value  is  life,  on  your  terms  ?  " 

"  So  you  r'a'ly  don't  fancy  Bill,  don't  ye  ?  'drather  hack 
away  with  cold  steel,  ha  ?  ready  to  pitch  battle  with  him  — 
well,  you  be  a  trump,  you  be,  by  thunder ! " 

"  I  did  not  draw  a  weapon  to  strike  you  except  in  extremest 
need  —  rather  my  own  heart  than  that ;  but  this  room  is  sa 
cred  to  me,  and  blood  is  a  cheap  defence." 

"  Now,  if  ye  mean  it,  I  s'pose  I  can  put  it  off  a  day  or  so ; 
but,  let  me  tell  ye,  you'll  fore  better,  in  the  long  run,  to  back 
down  right  off,  for  Bill  don't  s waller  slights  easy." 

Yet,  as  Flora  neither  made  reply  nor  changed  her  attitude, 
he  added,  "  So  ye  mean  to  stick  to  your  text  to-night,  du  ye  ? 
If  ye  du,  I  won't  crowd.  But  I  want  ye  to  understand  that 
23* 


270  THE    M US TEE,    OR 

when  Bill  comes  here  ag'in,  he  expects  to  be  better  accommo 
dated  ;  for  if  his  temper  fires  up,  he's  hell !  And  he'll  let 
this  here  go,  and  call  it  courtin' ;  but  the  next  time  he  comes 
round,  he  comes  for  a  weddin'  or  a  funeral  —  he  will,  by 
thunder !  So  he'll  say  good  night  now,  and  hopes  it's  all 
pleasant." 

During  his  talk,  Flora  closely  searched  him,  and  she  saw 
that  his  brutal  purpose  and  determination  were  neither  ad 
journed  nor  abated,  for  the  leer  of  lust  was  in  his  eye,  while 
its  smirk  spread  out  over  his  vulgar  visage.  She  saw,  also, 
that  he  was  desperate,  and  knew  that  he  was  meditating 
treachery,  so  that  his  words  of  leave-taking  were  not  the 
snare  which  he  hoped  they  would  be,  as  he  sprang  forward 
and  clutched  at  her  wrist,  thinking  to  disarm  and  overpower 
her.  But,  great  as  was  his  strength,  and  swift  as  was  his 
bound,  they  did  not  avail  him  then ;  for  she  saw  the  fell 
thought,  when  it  flashed  up  from  the  hell  of  his  passions, 
and  drew  back  her  arm  so  suddenly  that  he  caught  only  the 
keen  blade,  which  laid  open  the  flesh  of  his  hand ;  and  dart 
ing  .aside  at  the  same  instant,  she  dashed  out  the  light,  and, 
from  the  midst  of  the  black  darkness,  cried,  "  You  vile  wretch, 
look  to  your  own  life  now  !  " 

Bill  made  no  answer,  but,  leaping  like  a  tiger  to  the  place 
whence  the  voice  appeared  to  issue,  flung  wide  his  arms,  and 
struck  out  with  his  weapon  ;  yet  it  clove  only  the  air,  and  all 
was  still. 

Flora,  indeed,  barely  escaped  his  stroke  as  she  glided 
noiselessly  away,  palpitating  with  dread  and  loathing.  He 
even  had  a  glimpse  of  her  vanishing  form  ;  and  making  one 
more  desperate  plunge  to  lay  hold  of  her,  he  struck  a  piece 
of  furniture,  which  threw  him  heavily  to  the  floor,  when  his 
bowie  knife  broke  from  his  grasp,  and  bounded,  rattling,  far 
beyond  his  reach. 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  271 

After  the  whirl  of  blood  and  brain,  which  the  shock  of  the 
fall  occasioned,  had  subsided,  he  felt  that  he  was  still  whole, 
yet  lay  abject  and  trembling,  because,  being  weaponless,  he 
was  completely  in  her  power.  With  that  thought  the  beads 
of  sweat  gathered  thick  on  his  forehead,  and  his  skin  tin 
gled,  in  twenty  places,  as  though  the  fatal  steel  was  piercing 
him.  On  this,  his  blood  boiled,  and  his  breath  came  thick, 
making  him  to  feel  all  that  a  dastardly  culprit  can  undergo 
when  the  hangman  adjusts  the  cord  to  his  neck,  and  the 
waiting  coffin  arrests  his  eye,  while  he  listens  for  the  click 
of  that  spring  which  will  hurl  him  over  the  fathomless  pre 
cipice. 

Yet,  after  a  few  moments,  finding  that  he  was  still  alive, 
Bill  began  to  crawl  away,  as  softly  as  he  could,  in  what  he 
hoped  to  be  the  direction  of  the  door ;  but  he  did  not  strike 
it,  while  every  touch  against  the  dead  wail  gave  him  a  pang ; 
and,  hearing  a  rustling  very  near  him,  he  gasped  with  horror 
as  he  jumped  aside  from  the  sound.  This  fortunately  threw 
him  before  the  opening,  for  he  was  full  of  despair,  and  was 
as  weak  as  an  infant.  So  he  passed  out,  and  went  groping 
on,  feeling  for  the  stairs ;  when,  touching  the  balustrade  un 
expectedly,  he  well  nigh  lost  his  senses,  but  recovering  in  a 
moment,  he  hearkened  with  every  hair.  Catching  alarm  once 
more,  he  sprang,  and,  being  on  the  brink  of  the  stairs,  went 
down,  carrying  most  of  the  balusters  along  with  him  —  half 
screaming,  half  groaning  as  he  fell.  But,  realizing  what  had 
happened,  he  jumped  up,  on  the  instant,  and  overturning  two 
or  three  chairs,  finally  reached  the  front  door,  and  getting  it 
open  and  himself  out,  he  locked  it,  to  sink  down  on  the  step 
and  laugh  in  very  weakness,  and  think  himself  a  favorite  of 
fortune. 

However,  in  a  few  minutes,  another  feeling  came  over  him, 
and  he  said  aloud,  "  Now,  how  many  times  will  Bill  Frink 


272  THE 


OB 


stand  bein'  bullied  by  a  woman  —  and  a  nigger  at  that  ?  Will 
he  sneak  off  ag'in  ?  No,  by  thunder !  he'll  go  loaded  with 
arms  fust;  and  he'll  be  here  to-morrow  night  to  make  this 
here  house  the  hottest  or  the  coldest  place  this  side  o'  hell !  " 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  273 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

The  tuneful  noise  the  sprightly  courser  hears, 
Paws  the  green  turf,  and  pricks  his  trembling  ears  ; 
The  slackened  rein  now  gives  him  all  his  speed, 
Back  flies  the  rapid  ground  beneath  the  steed ; 
Hills,  dales,  and  forests,  far  behind  remain, 
While  the  warm  scent  draws  on  the  deep-mouthed  train. 

GAY. 

FROM  the  open  casement  above,  Flora  had  heard  her  mas 
ter's  words,  and  felt  that  in  the  end  the  battle  would  be  a  losing 
one  for  her ;  felt  that  it  was  a  field  in  which  heroism  itself 
could  have  no  hope ;  felt  that  there  was  nothing  left  to  her 
but  flight ;  and,  although  that  must  be  through  a  multitude  of 
foes,  it  were  better  to  venture  forth,  however  dark  the  pros 
pect,  as  struggle  itself  is  a  reprieve,  and  on  the  most  forlorn 
path  is  sometimes  victorious. 

So,  having  watched  Bill  go  up  and  out  of  the  street,  Flora 
entered  the  foom  where  her  child  was  sleeping,  and  there 
prayed  the  Almighty  for  his  guiding  hand  through  the  thick 
darkness  that  environed  her. 

Still  bending  over  her  son,  she  kissed  him,  and  as  he  roused 
to  consciousness  she  said,  "  Mother  is  going  out  to  walk  ;  does 
her  dear  little  boy  wish  to  go  with  her  ?  " 

"  It  be  all  dark,  mother  —  isn't  it  ?  " 

"My  dear  child  the  dark  is  our  best  friend  now;  and  it  is 
cool  and  breezy  at  this  hour,  which  makes  it  more  pleasant 
walking  than  by  day." 

"  O,  I  want  to  go  if  you  be  going,"  said  Fred,  rising  up. 

But  a  few  minutes  had  elapsed  ere  she  made  him  ready, 
when,  arraying  herself  for  the  adventure,  she  took  a  cup  and 


274  THE    MUSTEE,     OB 

some  bread,  with  a  few  other  needful  things.  Then,  softly  open 
ing  one  of  the  front  windows,  she  gazed  over  the  silent  street, 
and  seeing  nothing  to  deter,  lifted  Fred  out,  jumped  out  herself, 
closed  the  window,  and  taking  her  way  towards  the  lower  sub 
urbs  of  the  city,  at  length  reached  the  levee,  and  continued  to 
walk  hurriedly  on.  When  daylight  appeared,  fearing  to  be 
questioned  by  those  whom  she  might  meet  there,  she  turned 
away  from  the  river,  and  sought  the  cover  of  the  bordering 
forest;  there,  beneath  the  shade  and  through  occasional  tan 
gled  undergrowth,  she  pressed  on,  skirting  the  cultivated  ground 
and  following  the  course  of  the  Mississippi  —  now  leading  her 
child  and  now  carrying  him,  still  strong  with  resolve,  if  not 
with  hope,  and  anxious  to  put  space  between  her  and  the  city 
from  which  she  had  fled. 

In  this  manner  she  urged  on  her  steps  until  the  heat  and 
stillness  of  midday  found  her  so  weary  that  she  sat  down  on  a 
little  rising  ground,  —  it  being  sonlewhat  less  damp  than  the 
surrounding  country,  —  beneath  the  shade  of  a  far-spreading, 
towering  live  oak,  which  was  curtained  dark  with  long  mosses, 
pendent  from  every  limb,  and  seeming  as  if  the  dryads  that 
dwelt  there  had  dishevelled  their  locks  to  veil  their  charms 
from  mortal  eyes. 

During  the  long  march  Fred  had  made  no  complaint,  for 
Flora  watched  him  carefully  through  all,  and  when  she  thought 
that  he  might  be  weary,  took  him  cheerfully  in  her  arms  and 
carried  him  on  until  he  desired  to  get  down  ;  in  truth,  his  at 
tention  had  been  so  taken  with  novelty,  that  he  found  no  time 
to  think  of  himself.  As  they  walked  along  the  child  had  made 
inquiry  about  every  thing  which  he  saw  in  the  woods  ;  yet  new 
objects  thronged  so  thick  that  he  could  not  wait  for  answers, 
and  his  "  O  mother,  what  is  that  ?  "  passed  with  the  vision,  as 
he  watched  the  continually  unrolling  panorama  with  its  ever- 
new  attractions. 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  275 

He,  however,  soon  fell  asleep  after  the  halt ;  and  in  a  little 
time  Flora  herself  slept,  for  it  seemed  a  secure  place,  and  she 
thought  it  necessary  to  prepare  her  for  the  journey  of  the 
night ;  so,  beneath  a  large  shawl  which  protected  them  from 
the  thronging  mosquitos,  they  took  their  rest. 

Thus,  for  three  or  four  hours,  they  found  repose.  But  at 
length  Flora  was  aroused  by  sharp  notes  and  the  near  rust 
ling  of  the  undergrowth,  when,  starting  up,  she  saw,  and  was 
seen  by,  some  boys  who  were  searching  for  the  young  of  the 
mocking-bird,  which  inhabit  those  wroods  in  great  numbers. 
It  was  the  voices  of  those  birds,  now  shrill,  now  mournful,  as 
they  darted  near  and  around  these  devastators  of  their  happi 
ness,  which  gave  the  first  warning  of  danger,  and  startled 
Flora  from  the  depths  of  sleep.  The  marauding  party  con 
sisted  of  a  white  boy,  of  about  twelve  years  of  age,  with  two, 
apparently,  attendant  blacks  some  few  years  older. 

As  they  came  through  the  brush,  near  the  tree,  they  saw 
the  child  as  well  as  Flora  ;  so  they  gazed  curiously  for  a  few 
moments,  but  finally  passed  without  question  ;  and  when  they 
were  fairly  out  of  sight  she  lifted  up  her  boy  and  hurried  on. 

In  this  manner  she  continued  to  press  forward  for  more 
than  an  hour,  when  it  became  so  dusk  that  farther  progress 
was  difficult.  Then  she  halted  and  watched  until  she  thought 
it  nine  o'clock,  for  there  were  occasional  dwellings  along  the 
course  of  the  river,  and  masters  or  overseers  might  be  out  in 
the  early  evening,  who  would  observe,  question,  and  detain 
her  until  duly  advertised  and  claimed.  When  that  hour  had 
fully  arrived,  she  crossed  the  cleared  land,  gained  the  levee, 
and  kept  on  by  the  edge  of  the  descending  current. 

Where  she  was  going  Flora  had  not  paused  to  consider ; 
she  felt  that  she  must  go  —  it  might  be  some  mysterious  lead 
ing.  She  only  knew  that  she  was  flying  from  something  more 
dreadful  than  death ;  so  that  she  could  look  down  upon  the 


276  THE    MUSTEE,    OK 

dark  flood  beneath  her  feet  with  composure  and  a  feeling  of 
calm  trust,  for  into  its  silent  bosom  she  might  sink,  when  men 
should  rise  up  to  scourge  her  back  to  violation  ;  even  this  was 
to  her  a  hope  and  a  place  of  refuge. 

The  boys,  consulting  together,  soon  after  returned  by  the 
knoll  where  they  had  left  the  fugitives,  but  finding  only  the 
trampled  grass,  and  a  few  crumbs  thereon,  they  went  home  ; 
and  the  white  lad,  being  the  son  of  a  planter,  reported  to  the 
overseer  what  he  had  seen. 

That  keen  official  made  but  few  inquiries  before  he  ordered 
his  horse  saddled  ;  which  being  brought,  his  foot  was  quickly 
in  the  stirrup  and  his  spur  against  the  flank ;  and,  in  less  than 
an  hour's  time,  the  pavement  of  the  city  rang  to  the  tread  of 
his  smoking  steed. 

Seeking  an  acquaintance  immediately,  he  spoke  of  the  mat 
ter,  and  was  directed  to  the  broker,  as  one  who  would  be  most 
likely  to  know,  or  soonest  learn,  something  of  the  ownership 
of  the  fugitives. 

The  overseer  was  not  long  in  finding  that  person,  when  he 
gave  the  information  and  his  own  suspicions. 

"  Nearly  white,  you  say  she  is,  with  a  boy  three  or  four 
year  old.  How  fur  down  from  here  were  they  scared  up  ?  " 

'•'Between  eight  and  nine  miles,  I  reckon,"  the  overseer 
replied. 

"  What  kind  o'  goods  did  they  have  on  —  spruce  or  common 
lookin'?" 

"  I  didn't  have  a  sight  at  them ;  and  the  boys  didn't  seem 
to  know,  for  all  that  they  could  tell  about  it  was,  their  clothes 
were  lightish  colored,  and  they  had  a  large  light  shawl." 

"  S'pose  we  cross  over  to  the  saloon  and  take  a  drink  ;  and 
p'r'aps  we  may  dig  out  somethin'  more  about  it  there,  you 
know." 

When  they  entered  Bill  Frink  was  at  the  bar  with  his  com- 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  277 

rades,  and  seeing  them  he  called  out,  "  Come  on,  broker,  you're 
right  in  time,  and  jist  bring  up  your  friend,  tu ;  for  we've  got 
to  drink  all  they've  got  in  these  here  decanters ;  we  have,  by 
thunder  !  so  the  more  help,  the  lighter  the  jag." 

Having  emptied  their  glasses,  the  broker,  taking  Bill  aside, 
asked,  "  How  does  it  go  up  there  —  how  do  ye  flourish  in  the 
tender  line  ?  " 

"  O,  so  so  ;  she  acts  a  little  rusty  about  startin' ;  but  I  guess 
she'll  go  well  'nough  arter  she  gits  warm.  Come,  let's  take 
another  drink,  for  I'm  fittin'  to  go  and  court  her." 

"  What !  haven't  you  paid  her  a  visit  to-day  ?  you  oughter 
be  very  'tentive  at  fust,  you  know." 

"  No,  by  thunder  !     I  go  in  for  business  in  the  daytime." 

"  Was  she  sweet  on  ye,  last  night  ?  " 

"  What's  that  to  you,  by  thunder !  What  the  devil  be  ye 
so  pryin'  about  —  haven't  ye  got  your  pay  for  her?  But 
come,  I'm  dry ;  so  let's  wet  down  ag'in." 

"  Now  don't  git  into  a  pucker,  Bill ;  for  nothin'  short  of  a 
matter  of  business  could  have  led  me  to  call  ye  one  side,  you 
know ;  and  I  reckon  your  woman  has  stepped  out." 

"  That  would  be  a  swell  go ! "  exclaimed  Frink.  "  Now  I'll 
bet  a  hat  she  hain't ;  and  I  hope  she  has,  for  I'd  like  to  slip 
my  dogs  on  her  tracks ;  I  should,  by  thunder !  Du  ye  r'a'ly 
think  she  has  gone  and  done  that  are  ?  " 

"  I  guess  we'd  better  go  and  take  a  squint.  There's  no 
knowin'  what'll  they  do,  you  know ;  and  there's  cause  to  sus 
picion  somethin's  broke  loose." 

"  You  hain't  seen  her  sence  I  bought  her  —  have  ye  ?  Now 
what  the  devil  be  ye  so  kind  o'  private  about  ?  " 

"  If  we  find  she's  vamosed  the  ranch,  you  know,  you  shall 
have  the  whole  story." 

"  Then  I  s'pose  I'm  bound  to  go ;  and  while  we're  up  there 
we  can  finish  that  bottle  in  the  bureau  —  you  remember  it  ? 
24 


278  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

By  thunder,  what  the  devil  was  that  ?  It  tasted  like  there 
was  tansy  in  it ;  but  let's  go  and  git  done  with  the  job." 

So  the  three  started  off  together,  white  Bill  said  to  those 
whom  he  was  leaving,  "  Boys,  hold  on  here  for  me,  for  I'll  be 
back  in  less  than  no  time." 

When  they  had  fully  satisfied  themselves  that  neither  Flora 
nor  her  child  were  in  the  house,  and  Bill  had  expressed  great 
astonishment  and  indignation  over  the  wreck  of  the  stair  rail, 
and  had  slyly  recovered  his  bowie  knife,  he  turned  to  the 
broker  and  inquired,  "  Now,  where  the  devil  is  she  ?  for  I 
s'pose  you  know.  O,  won't  I  give  her  some!  Won't  she 
catch  it,  ha !  by  thunder !  " 

"  This  gentleman,  you  know,"  said  the  broker,  indicating  his 
companion  by  a  jerk  of  his  neck,  "may  give  ye  a  leetle  more 
light  on  the  subject." 

Thus  appealed  to,  the  overseer  related  the  facts  which  had 
brought  him  to  the  city. 

On  finishing  his  account,  Bill  said,  "  That's  she ;  and  a  right 
lively  hunt  we'll  have  on  her  tracks  to-morrow.  Won't  she 
catch  it,  for  she  can't  git  away  nohow ;  her  chain  is  more  nor 
a  thousand  miles  long,  by  thunder  !  And  you  desarve  well  of 
Uncle  Sam,  and  me  tu ;  so  ye  may  reckon  on  your  pay,  and 
I'll  be  down  to  your  coop,  with  the  right  sort  o'  company,  by 
seven  in  the  mornin'." 

"  That  will  be  in  good  season,"  said  the  overseer,  "  and  you 
will  find  me  ready  to  p'int  out  the  place  where  she  was  seen, 
and  foller  the  hounds." 

Soon  after  they  separated,  Bill  went  round  to  three  or  four 
of  his  intimates,  and  acquainted  them  with  the  expected  sport ; 
and  they,  being  eager  to  participate  in  it,  engaged  horses  for 
the  coming  day. 

When  the  arrangements  were  all  made,  Frink  did  not  return 
to  the  saloon,  as  he  had  promised,  but  retired  to  rest;  or 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  279 

rather  to  labor  with  a  dream,  in  which  prospect  and  retrospect 
were  strangely  mingled.  As  he  sank  to  slumber,  he  started 
off  after  the  hounds  with  an  exulting  heart;  but  soon  his 
horse  was  flying  along  the  terrible  edge  of  dark  and  precipi 
tous  rocks,  down  which,  after  many  times  nearly  losing  his 
footing,  so  that  the  rider  was  in  paroxysms  of  fright,  at  length 
he  fell !  But,  as  they  were  hurled  over  the  steep,  he  caught 
hold  of  something  which  seemed  to  him  a  balustrade ;  yet  it 
was  so  frail  that  it  flew  to  splinters  in  his  grasp  as  he  went 
crashing  down,  down,  down !  until,  seeing  that  he  was  about 
to  plunge  into  a  yawning  chasm  whose  dizzy  deep  was  alive 
with  serpents,  writhing  and  glowing  like  flames,  he  screamed 
and  started,  half  awake,  though  not  sufficiently  to  shake  off 
the  demon,  for  it  led  him,  night  long,  amid  recollections  and 
portents  which  made  his  hair  to  stand  on  end  and  his  flesh 
to  creep. 

By  the  dawn  of  day  the  hunting  party  were  stirring,  and, 
mounting,  reached  the  plantation  at  the  hour  appointed,  when 
the  boys  led  them  to  the  knoll  where  they  had  seen  the 
fugitives. 

On  being  shown  the  ground,  which  had  then  well  nigh  lost 
all  trace  of  step  or  pressure,  Luff  and  Trim  were  led  to  the 
spot,  and  soon  made  to  comprehend  what  was  wanted  of  them ; 
so  that,  after  snuffing,  whining,  and  whimpering  around  a  few 
moments,  Trim  gave  a  short,  sharp  bark  as  he  took  up  the 
track,  and  Luff  struck  in  behind  him  with  a  bellow,  and  Bill 
shouted,  "It's  a  start!"  when  the  plantation  dogs  were  let 
loose,  and  taking  the  scent,  they  followed  with  full  voice ;  and 
the  horsemen,  wheeling  in  pursuit,  galloped  down  the  woods 
to  what  they  called  glorious  music. 

The  hounds  worked  slow  and  were  occasionally  bothered  at 
wet  places,  probably  because  over  those  spots  Flora  had  carried 
Fred  in  her  arms.  They  soon,  however,  passed  out  of  the 


280  THE    MUSTEE,     OR 

forest,  crossed  the  cleared  field,  and  mounted  on  to  the  levee, 
down  which  they  followed  eight  or  ten  miles,  when  they  once 
more  struck  across  the  clearing  £nd  in  among  the  trees ;  but 
these  began  to  draw  nearer  the  stream,  and  in  many  places 
approached  quite  to  the  brink  of  the  water.  The  hounds  grew 
more  and  more  lively  as  the  scent  became  fresher,  and  over 
that  swampy  flat  led  the  horses  at  long  distance  ;  so  that  Bill 
called  out,  "  Ride  clost !  We  shall  be  on  'em  soon  !  If  the 
game  don't  tree,  the  fur'll  fly !  We  must  jump  down  the  dogs 
if  they  fasten  ;  I  don't  want  'em  torn  up  right  off  hand ;  for  I 
shall  feel  as  if  I  hadn't  got  half  satisfaction;  I  shall,  by 
thunder ! " 

It  was  a  strain  of  high  enjoyment  to  those  fiendish  hunters, 
as  they  pressed  on  their  plunging  horses;  and  Frink's  face 
glowed  with  ferocious  triumph,  for  he  expected,  every  instant, 
to  hear  the  despairing  screams  of  his  victim. 

His  brain  so  fired  with  this  thought  that  he  fancied  he  heard 
a  cry,  and  shouted,  "  Hark  ! "  In  suddenly  checking  his 
headlong  course  to  listen,  the  overseer  tripped  his  horse,  so 
that  he  blundered  and  launched  him  against  the  limb  of  a  tree, 
which  caught  in  the  corner  of  his  mouth,  and  tore  his  cheek 
open  to  his  ear. 

Bill  laughed,  with  the  rest,  as  he  saw  him  roll  in  the  mud ; 
but  the"  woods  were  echoing  with  the  full  wild  joy  of  the 
hounds ;  so  on  they  dashed  again,  their  steeds  foaming  and 
smoking  beneath  the  burning  sun,  yet  as  eager  in  the  chase  as 
dog  or  rider. 

"  There  !  there  !  "  shouted  Bill ;  "  the  hunt's  up  !  the 
hounds  are  still !  We'll  have  'em,  dead  or  alive,  in  a  few 
shakes  ;  we  will,  by  thunder  !  Hooraw  !  hooraw  ! " 

So  the  riders  shouted,  "  Hooraw !  "  and  the  trees  caught  up 
the  unfeeling  cry,  yet  more  faintly  repeated  it,  and  the  dogs 
replied  far  down  through  the  foliage. 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  281 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

Fate  made  me  what  I  am  —  may  make  me  nothing  — 

But  either  that  or  nothing  must  I  be ; 

I  will  not  live  degraded.  BYRON. 

As  the  first  signs  of  approaching  day  began  to  pale  the 
eastern  stars,  the  notes  of  preparation  on  board  of  the  ships 
which  were  ready  to  depart  from  New  Orleans  broke  cheer 
fully  on  the  ear.  The  rich,  deep  voices,  incident  to  the  full, 
strong  lungs  that  the  great  sea  gives  its  votaries,  were 
growing  every  minute  more  predominant  and  decisive,  over 
the  echo  of  the  trampled  decks  and  the  shrill  screams  of  the 
blocks,  as  they  swelled  up  in  command  or  remonstrance,  jaggy 
with  oaths  and  piquant  with  epithet. 

There,  near  by,  paused  the  steam-tugs,  hoarse,  hot,  and 
oppressed  in  their  breathing,  and  seeming  to  wait  with  restless 
impatience,  while  grappling  to  the  leviathans  which  they  were 
to  bear  down  through  the  passes  and  set  free  in  the  waters  of 
the  Gulf. 

Casting  the  eye  aloft,  men  were  to  be  seen  lying  out  on 
the  yards  of  the  ships ;  and  top-sails  and  top-gallantsails  were 
escaping  from  their  gaskets,  on  three  or  four,  that  were  about 
to  try  their  own  wings ;  for  there  was  a  leading  breeze  from 
the  south,  while  the  vapory  fleeces  which  were  rising  along 
the  north-west  gave  indication  that  it  would  veer  to  that  quar 
ter  as  the  day  advanced. 

One  after  another,  those  vessels  sheeted  home,  filled  away, 
and  stretched  out  into  the  silent,  swift,  and  turbid  current. 
24* 


282  THE    MUSTEE,    OB 

Who  is  there  in  whom  a  ship  does  not  awaken  admiration  ? 
The  most  perfect  are  very  dreams  of  beauty,  with  charms 
that  never  cloy ;  for  still  we  gaze  whenever  their  white  bosoms 
woo  the  wind.  Even  the  most  uncouth  are  attractive,  when, 
under  a  press  of  canvas,  they  look  to  the  wind  and  cleave 
through  the  broken  ranks  of  opposing  waves,  or  stagger  before 
the  gale  and  reel  amid  the  billows;  while  those  which  are 
modelled  with  art,  and  clothed  with  grace,  leave  their  pictures 
in  the  mind  to  rise  occasionally  to  sight,  on  the  illimitable  sea 
of  memory,  long  after  they  have  "  veiled  their  high  tops  lower 
than  their  ribs,  to  kiss  their  burial." 

The  last  of  the  ships  which  left  the  levee,  on  that  morning, 
was  one  to  be  remembered  —  long,  sharp,  and  full  sparred, 
she  divided  the  waters  without  disturbing  them,  any  more  than 
does  the  fin  of  a  shark  as  he  prowls  for  his  prey.  When  she 
swept  into  view,  it  could  be  seen  that  she  was  one  of  those 
triumphs  of  naval  art  which  give  to  the  ocean  an  interest  not 
its  own,  but  akin  to  that  which  the  beauty  of  Mary  has  left  in 
the  otherwise  gloomy  halls  of  Holyrood. 

As  her  signal  mounted  to  the  main,  and  unrolled  on  the 
breeze,  it  disclosed  her  name  to  be  the  Muse ;  while  her  ap 
propriate  figure-head  was  a  female  form,  draped  in  white  and 
girdled  with  gold,  and  in  her  hand  she  bore  a  golden  lyre. 
She  seemed  a  flowing  curve  in  every  part,  except  where  the 
quarter  blended  with  the  stern  frame,  which  was  slightly 
rounded  and  gracefully  raked,  and  decorated  with  a  single 
wreath  of  laurel  dipped  in  gold. 

When,  under  a  cloud  of  canvas,  she  gathered  way,  with 
every  thing  braced  sharp  and  swayed  home,  she  looked  away 
to  the  windward  of  all  those  which  had  got  off  before  her,  and 
was  overreaching  them  at  the  same  time  —  revealing  to  the 
nautically  trained  eye  that,  when  her  cap  was  full  of  wind, 
she  cared  but  little  from  what  point  of  the  compass  it  came. 


LOVE     AND    LIBERTY.  283 

With  the  ease  and  celerity  of  a  pilot  boat  she  glided  down, 
tacking  and  tacking  until  nine  o'clock,  when,  having  made 
nearly  twenty  miles,  the  breeze  failed  under  the  heat  of  the 
sun,  —  for  it  was  the  first  of  June,  —  so  that  she  scarcely  had 
steerage  way  in  the  descending,  current. 

The  crew  of  the  Muse  were  hiding  in  the  shadows  of  the 
sails,  or  the  bulwarks,  from  the  fierce  heat  of  that  southern 
latitude  which  crinkled  to  sight  in  the  air,  and  seared  the 
flesh  like  a  mist  of  molten  gold ;  and  the  mosses  on  the 
mighty  oaks,  that  skirted  the  river,  hung  as  though  they  were 
cast  in  bronze,  although  the  faintest  whisper  of  the  lightest 
and  idlest  zephyr  has  power  to  agitate  them. 

Captain  Elery  —  for  it  was  his  ship  —  was  slowly  walking 
along  her  quarter-deck,  scanning  the  white  clouds,  —  which 
still  continued  to  float  out  of  the  deep  blue  of  the  west,  — 
glancing,  occasionally,  over  the  ship's  side  at  the  water,  and 
then  aloft,  as  if  at  a  loss  to  know  where  the  Muse  got  her 
headway.  But  her  skysails  towered  far  above  the  forest,  and 
met  the  first  advances  of  that  western  breeze  which  the 
"  scud  "  of  the  morning  had  prophesied. 

At  length  the  captain  said,  "  I  believe  our  signal  has  caught 
a  fair  wind,  Mr.  Jones,  though  there's  not  much  to  brag  of 
yet ;  but  if  I  know  the  quality  of  those  '  sheep-skins,'  along 
the  nor'-west,  we  shall  have  a  pelt  or  two  before  the  day  is 
over." 

"  I  hope  so,"  replied  the  mate  ;  "  for  I  want  to  steer  clear 
of  this  mud  creek  before,  night  comes  on  ;  as  it's  so  near  the 
color  of  the  land  that  in  the  dark  you  can't  tell  which  is  which ; 
and  I  don't  want  to  be  cast  away  in  a  swamp ;  give  me  either 
land  or  water ;  they're  too  much  mixed  up  here  to  suit  me. 
They  say  that  Lafitte,  the  pirate,  used  to  navigate  all  through 
these  woods  in  his  craft." 

"  Very  likely,  Mr.  Jones ;  but  then  you  know  that  she  was 


284  THE    MUSTEE,   OR 

fore  and  aft  rigged,  and  so  might  sheer  round  the  limbs  of  the 
trees  easier  than  we  can.  Yet,  under  full  headway,  I  think 
that  the  Muse  could  go  in  any  where  along  here,  two  or  three 
times  her  length,  easy." 

"  That's  what  I'm  afraid  of,  sir  ;  for,  in  the  dark,  we  can't 
see  the  turns  in  the  river,  and  if  there's  a  good  breeze  she'll 
make  a  straight  wake,  and  tear  her  copper  half  off  in  plough 
ing  through." 

"  And  then,"  said  Elery,  "  when  we  come  to  haul  her  on  to 
the  ways  in  New  York,  ^—  as  we  should  be  obliged  to  do,  — 
we  might  find  blackberry  bushes,  instead  of  sea-weed,  hanging 
to  her  bottom.  I  would  as  soon  be  caught  with  hay  seed  in 
my  hair,  as  have  'em  see  that !  But  hark  !  Do  you  hear  that 
music  ?  Some  devil  is  out  with  the  hounds  this  hot  morning. 
Hark  !  they're  heading  this  way  —  driving  right  down  on  us. 
What  voices  they  have  !  Were  it  an  October  day,  and  the 
grass  all  silver  with  frost,  and  the  leaves  all  the  colors  of  the 
rainbow,  I  should  think  that  I  had  lost  something  of  the  glory 
of  life  in  being  cooped  up  here.  But  hear  them  come  —  they 
are  almost  down  to  us  !  Francis,  give  me  my  gun  !  Some 
thing  will  break  cover  in  a  moment !  if  it's  a  deer  it  may 
take  to  the  water.  Get  the  downfalls  of  the  quarter-boat 
tackles  clear,  men,  and  stand  by  to  lower  away  !  Mr.  Jones, 
where  the  devil  are  you  now  ?  If  a  loon  had  squalled,  a 
half  a  mile  off,  you  would  have  been  tiptoeing  the  deck,  or 
skulking  along  under  the  rail,  with  your  old  king's  arm,  in  less 
than  no  time  ! "  • . 

"  There,  there,  the  bushes  move  !"  cried  Jim,  —  one  of  the 
men,  —  who  had  been  quietly  watching ;  "  something  is  break 
ing  cover ! " 

The  captain  saw  the  motion,  also,  and  dropping  one  knee 
on  the  stern  coop,  he  brought  his  eye  to  bear  along  the  sights 
of  his  double-barrel  in  an  instant ;  when  something  did  break 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  285 

cover — something  which  brought  the  captain  to  his  feet,  and 
the  but  of  his  gun  to  the  deck,  with  a  ring!  for  it  was  a 
woman,  wild  and  dishevelled,  with  a  child,  whom  she  seemed 
to  bear  as  though  it  were  but  a  feather  in  her  grasp  !  Spring 
ing  up  the  levee,  —  some  six  or  seven  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  land,  and  two  or  three  higher  than  the  river,  —  she  dropped 
her  child,  and  stretching  out  her  imploring  hands  towards  the 
ship,  she  cried,  "  O,  save  me  !  save  me  !  Save  us  from  those 
terrible  dogs  ;  save,  O,  save  my  boy  ! " 

She  ceased  ;  yet  there,  upon  the  bank,  she  stood  with  her 
arms  still  outstretched  to  the  Muse,  as  though  that  winged 
thing  were  the  last  faint  hope  which  then  lingered  above  the 
grave. 

The  captain,  gun  in  hand,  leaped  into  the  boat,  and,  as  he 
did  it,  called  Jim  and  Jack  to  follow  ;  when,  "  Lower  away, 
men  !*"  was  the  order  and  the  work  of  an  instant.  Standing 
in  the  stern  sheets,  —  the  tackles  having  been  unhooked,  —  he 
said,  "  Now  spring  to  your  oars  —  spring  !  " 

As  the  boat  swept  out  from  under  the  shadow  of  the  ship's 
quarter  and  headed  for  the  object,  Elery  turned  and  said, 
"  Francis,  rig  the  companion  ladder  !  Mr.  Jones,  do  you  hear 
those  dogs  ?  There,  there  !  That's  Trim,  —  and  that's  Luff ! 
I  should  know  their  voices  among  a  thousand,  by  the  richness 
of  the  metal." 

The  next  instant  the  men  were  resting  upon  their  oars,  for 
the  boat  had  reached  the  feet  of  the  supplicant. 

Marking,  at  a  glance,  the  delicacy  of  her  hands  and  the 
style  and  texture  of  her  dress,  torn  and  soiled  as  it  was,  Elery 
said,  "  Lady,  what  do  you  implore  at  my  hands  ? " 

"  Life  !  protection  from  those  terrible  dogs,  and  more  terri 
ble  men  !  O,  do  you  not  hear  the  fiendish  pursuit,  and  will 
you  not  have  mercy  and  save  us  from  death  ?  " 

"  They  will  not  molest  you  !   They  are  on  the  track  of  some 


286  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

wild  inhabitant  of  the  woods  —  you  have  nothing  to  fear  from 
them." 

"  It  is  my  trail  which  they  are  following !  It  is  I  and 
my  poor  boy  whom  they  are  hunting  down  !  O  my  God,  is 
there  no  compassion  for  the  outlawed  ?  Can  you  feel  no  pity 
for  a  slave  ?  " 

"  You  a  slave  ?  Why,  there  is  not  a  tar  on  blue  water  who 
is  not  browner  than  you  are.  You  a  negro  !  well,  my  God, 
that  alters  the  business  !  it  puts  it  beyond  my  reach,  for  it  is  a 
peculiar  institution,  and  I  don't  want  to  burn  my  fingers  with 
it.  You  see  it  is  a  matter  in  which  somebody,  at  some  time, 
agreed  for  me  that  I  should  never  interfere."  And,  turning 
to  his  men,  he  added,  "  It  makes  my  blood  boil  to  say  so,  but 
this  is  something  which  we  are  bound  not  to  meddle  with  ;  so 
back  your  oars,  for  we  must  leave  it ; "  and,  on  the  word,  the 
boat  shot  twenty  feet  from  the  shore.  * 

The  next  moment,  seeing  that  last  earthly  hope  depart, 
Flora  caught  her  child  to  her  heart,  and  raised  her  eyes  far 
above  the  tall  top-gallants  of  that  stately  ship.  Silently  there, 
for  an  instant,  she  intensely  gazed  ;  then,  as  if  she  saw  some 
beckoning  finger  from  out  the  infinite  blue,  and  obeyed  its  sum 
mons,  she  leaped  into  the  eddying  flood  and  sank  from  sight. 

The  captain  stood  with  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  spot  where 
she  had  disappeared,  as  if  paralyzed  ;  and  the  men  at  the 
oars  sat  breathless.  Then  there  was  a  void  space,  as  if  time 
paused,  or  a  minute  was  stretching  to  an  hour.  On  this,  a 
shout  broke  forth  from  the  deck  of  the  ship,  not  from  one 
alone,  but  from  many ;  it  was  no  single  thought ;  it  was  the 
swift,  impetuous  impulse  of  all,  "  Save  her!"  "Save  her!" 
And  the  man  at  the  wheel  was  heard  to  say,  "  They'd  better 
be  quick  about  it,  too,  for  there's  a  breeze  coming." 

That  cry  broke  the  spell ;  and  dipping  their  oars  into  the 
water,  they  rested  over  the  spot  where  she  had  plunged,  but 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  287 

nothing  which  bore  the  semblance  of  humanity  was  visible  ; 
the  strong,  eddying  current  had  drawn  them  under,  and  in  a 
tide  so  turbid  that  it  .seemed  impossible  to  see  any  thing  below 
the  surface. 

Yet  there  they  gazed  —  all  gazed;  how  intently,  how 
fearfully  they  gazed,  while  slowly  pulling  the  boat  down  the 
river !  At  length  Elery  saw  something  playing  in  the  rings  of 
an  eddy ;  a  bubble  or  two  broke  on  the  surface ;  he  thrust  down 
his  hand,  —  it  was  the  hair  of  Flora,  —  and  in  a  moment  she 
was  drawn  into  the  boat,  still  pressing  her  boy  to  her  insen 
sible  bosom. 

In  taking  them  on  board,  the  child's  hat  and  Flora's  shawl 
had  fallen  off,  and  lay  floating  on  the  surface,  which  one  of  the 
men  seeing  seized  to  draw  them  after,  when  Elery  said, 
"  Throw  those  things  back !  they  are  chattels ;  but  I  have 
made  up  my  mind  that  these  forms  are  not  —  so  help  me, 
God!" 

The  Muse,  during  those  agitating  moments,  had  forged 
ahead,  for  the  wind  had  come  fair  and  was  freshening ;  yet 
she  was  not  out  of  hail,  and  seeing  his  ship's  name  roll  full  on 
the  breeze,  Elery  called,  "Mr.  Jones,  strike  the  signal!  I 
would  not  have  that  seen  now,  by  these  landsharks,  for  our 
best  bower,  though  Hope  leaned  upon  it ! "  Then  trem 
blingly  unclasping  the  arms  of  the  mother,  and  taking  away 
the  child,  he  laid  her  on  her  face  along  the  quarter  seat  of 
the  boat,  with  her  head  and  neck  drooping  over  the  after- 
thwart. 

Thus  leaving  her,  he  took  the  boy  across  his  arm,  and,  in 
clining  his  chest,  the  water  trickled  from  his  mouth  and 
nostrils.  In  a  moment,  as  the  flow  subsided,  he  pressed  the 
child's  nose  so  as  to  close  the  passages,  put  his  lips  to  his,  and 
went  through  the  action  of  breathing,  three  or  four  times,  into 
the  drowned  lungs  —  bracing  firmly  against  the  breast,  when 


288  THE    M US TEE,    OR 

he  drew  back  the  air,  to  start  up  the  natural  motion.  Then 
drawing  another  deep  breath  from  the  atmosphere,  he  repeated 
the  expiration  and  the  pressure  again  and  again,  until  the  boy 
begain  faintly  to  catch  his  breath  and  to  whimper;  when, 
opening  his  eyes,  he  commenced  crying  —  so  it  became  evident 
that  he  was  safe. 

They  had  then  reached  the  ship;  but  as  the  companion 
ladder  was  an  impracticable  way  with  one  so  helpless  as  Flora, 
#nd  to  rig  out  a  chair  would  cause  delay,  they  immediately 
hooked  the  boat  to  the  tackles.  Seeing  this,  as  their  anxious 
faces  were  all  bending  over  the  bulwarks,  the  men  sprang  to 
•the  falls,  ere  the  order  to  do  so  was  given,  and  ran  the  freight 
up  to  the  cranes  with  a  will.  Leaping  on  to  the  rail,  the  in 
stant  that  it  was  within  his  reach,  Elery  clasped  the  lifeless 
form,  and,  bearing  it  to  the  deck,  placed  it  on  the  trunk  of  the 
cabin  ;  when,  turning  to  the  men  who  were  pressing  near,  he 
said,  "  Fall  back,  boys !  I  want  air ;  and  don't  stifle  the  child, 
either  ! " 

Quickly  thereon  he  proceeded  to  treat  the  asphyxia  of  the 
mother  as  he  had  done  that  of  the  son ;  and  frequently  he 
repeated  the  action  without  sign  of  reviving  life,  until  he  be 
came  so  exhausted  that  he  thought  of  calling  for  assistance. 
But,  as  he  paused  and  looked  around,  they  all  stood  so  mute 
and  motionless,  and  with  so  despairing  an  expression,  that  the 
yet  latent  force  of  his  nature  was  aroused,  and  he  bent  with 
new  energy  to  his  method  of  resuscitation.  So  working,  for  a 
brief  time,  he  thought  that  he  felt  a  muscle  quiver!  In  a 
moment  there  followed  a  slight  shudder  of  the  frame ;  then  a 
low  gurgle  —  a  groan  —  a^  convulsion ! 

The  sailors  started  at  the  sound,  and  many  of  them  listened 
and  looked  with  bright  tears  coursing  down  their  bronzed 
cheeks,  and  the  hearts  of  all  were  softened  and  touched  with 
tender  compassion.  Yet,  as  she  gave  fuller  signs  of  life,  their 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  289 

feelings  changed  and  their  brows  knit,  for  the  lion  within  them 
was  rousing,  at  thought  of  an  oppressor  who  could  be  more 
dreadful  than  death. 

Flora  had,  apparently,  lost  sensation  so  soon  as  to  have  had 
no  struggle  with  the  King  of  Terrors ;  yet  she  came  back  to 
consciousness  slowly,  falteringly,  and  by  the  gate  of  pain. 

When  Elery  felt  that  she  was  out  of  danger,  he  took  her  in 
his  arms,  and,  carrying  her  below,  laid  her  in  the  upper  berth 
of  one  of  the  starboard  state  rooms  —  that  being  the  wind 
ward  side ;  and  spreading  some  blankets  over  her,  he  opened 
the  port,  that  she  might  feel  the  fanning  of  the  westerly  breeze ; 
and  telling  Francis  to  watch  by  her,  and  call  him  instantly 
if  he  saw  any  change,  he  passed  out  and  ascended  to  the 
deck. 

25 


290  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

Play  with  your  fancies ;  and  in  them  behold, 
Upon  the  hempen  tackle,  ship  boys  climbing ; 
Hear  the  shrill  whistle,  which  doth  order  give 
To  sounds  confused  ;  behold  the  threaden  sails 
Borne  with  th'  invisible  and  creeping  wind. 

SHAKSPEAEE. 

THE  first  thing  which  attracted  the  captain's  attention  as  he 
reached  the  deck  was  the  boy,  who  was  lying  down  in  front  of 
the  hencoop  stirring  up  the  fowls  with  a  belaying  pin,  and 
crowing  louder  than  any  of  them,  while  his  wet  clothes  were 
smoking  under  the  fierce  rays  of  the  sun. 

But  the  sailors  were  all  looking  at  the  spot  where  they 
had  made  the  rescue,  which  was  then  nearly  a  mile  distant. 
For  there,  some  minutes  before,  even  while  they  were  hoisting 
the  boat  to  the  cranes,  the  hounds  had  come  to  a  stand,  and, 
foiled  and  panting,  were  awaiting  their  masters  ;  though  at 
this  moment  two  or  three  of  them,  having  slid  down  the  bank, 
were  swimming  off  from  the  shore  as  if  attracted  by  the  shawl 
and  hat,  which,  floating,  were  still  circling  around  in  the  eddies 
of  the  current. 

"  Francis,"  said  Elery,  as  he  turned  his  eyes  that  way, 
"  pass  me  up  my  spyglass." 

As  the  steward  laid  it  in  the  captain's  hand,  he  inquired 
with  a  jerk  of  his  neck  to  the  starboard,  "  How  is  she  ?" 

"  She's  breathing  short,  sir,  and  wheezes  some,  but  I  guess 
she's  coming  round,  sir." 

"  I  hope  so  ;  but  you  must  keep  a  sharp  lookout." 

On  this  he  raised  the  glass  to  his  eye,  and,  having  brought 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  291 

it  to  bear,  said,  "  Yes,  these  dogs  are  after  that  hat  and  shawl, 
for  I  can  see  where  they  float,  and  they  are  heading  for  the 
objects.  There,  they  grab  at  them  —  it  is  a  shawl !  and  they 
are  trying  to  jerk  it  from  each  other  as  they  make  for  the 
shore.  There  stand  Luff  and  Trim,  with  their  tongues  hang 
ing  out  as  long  as  pump-spouts !  and  they  are  snuffing  the  air 
and  looking  right  down  towards  us  as  if  they  knew  every  tim 
ber  in  the  Muse  by  the  smell!  There  come  three  or  four 
horsemen  struggling  out  of  the  bushes  and  up  the  bank.  One 
is  Bill  Frink !  which  is  just  what  I  expected,  when  I  first 
knew  the  voices  of  the  hounds.  There,  they  dismount,  and 
pull  the  dogs  out  of  the  water.  Now  Bill  takes  the  shawl  — 
he  spreads  it  out  and  shows  it  to  the  others  as  though  he  knew 
it  —  I  can  almost  hear  him  swear !  —  There,  he  slings  it  off 
into  the  river.  Hark  !  I  believe  that  I  did  hear  him  say,  '  by 
thunder,'  then ;  or  else  it  was  something  about  going  to  col 
lege !  Now  he's  watching  us  —  now  he's  looking  at  Luff  and 
Trim  as  they  run  down  the  bank  towards  us  and  back  again 
to  him  —  he  understands  !  he's  pointing  to  the  ship  and  speak 
ing  to  the  others  —  I  can  certainly  hear  him  swear  now !  — 
There,  they  swing  into  their  saddles  —  and  there  they  go  up 
the  levee  at  a  round  pace  with  the  dogs  stringing  along  after 
them." 

The  captain  closed  his  glass,  and  began  walking  to  and 
fro  on  his  quarter-deck ;  and  though  not  fast  at  first,  his  pace 
fell  slower  and  slower,  as  if  his  limbs  were  getting  entangled 
in  the  thread  of  his  thought.  While  moving  thus,  Fred  came 
up  softly  behind  him,  and  taking  hold  of  the  spy-glass,  which 
was  poised  in  the  pendent  hand  of  the  sailor,  closed  one  eye 
and  squinted  at  the  brass  shove  an  instant,  when,  discovering 
nothing  that  particularly  interested  him,  he  danced  back,  and 
resumed  his  performance  at  the  hencoop. 

Elery,  however,  was  too  much  absorbed  to  notice  the  ma- 


292  THE    MUSTEK,     OR 

noeuvre  of  the  boy,  or  observe  the  smiles  of  the  sailors.  But 
at  length  he  turned  to  the  mate  and  inquired,  "  How  fast  do 
you  think  the  Muse  can  sail,  Mr.  Jones  ?  " 

"  Well,  I  believe  we  have  crowded  her  fifteen  knots,  sir." 

"  Then  it  shall  be  done  to-day,  if  we  can  find  wind  enough ; 
and  there's  a  pretty  stiff  breeze  now  well  on  the  quarter,  and 
it  is  pricking  on  every  minute  ;  but  we  must  pack  the  canvas 
on  to  her ;  so  put  out  a  whole  suit  of  weather  studding-sails 
aloft,  for  we  must  look  for  most  of  the  wind  over  the  tops  of 
the  trees."  And  turning  to  the  men  he  added,  rather  unu 
sually,  as  they  had  overheard  the  order  and  were  dispersing 
to  the  duty,  "  Now  bear  a  hand,  boys,  and  let's  see  how  quick 
we  can  get  them  on  to  her." 

As  they  sprang  to  the  work,  Elery  said  to  the  man  at  the 
wheel,  "  Tom,  keep  her  as  close  to  the  eastern  shore  as  you 
can,  and  not  get  out  of  the  strength  of  the  current ;  for  this 
shaggy  forest  will  take  all  the  wind  out  of  our  lower  sails  if 
we  don't  give  it  a  wide  berth." 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir, "  answered  the  steersman,  as  he  gave  her  a 
spoke  or  two  more  of  weather  helm. 

"  Francis,"  said  Elery,  stepping  towards  the  companion-way, 
"  what  time  is  it  below  there  ?  " 

"Ten  o'clock,  sir." 

Then  looking  up,  the  captain  said,  "  Lay  out,  lay  out  aloft 
there  !  reeve  your  halliards  and  rig  out  your  booms  —  be 
lively!" 

"Ay,  ay,  sir,"  came  ringing  down  and  echoing  from  the 
deck. 

Taking  a  turn  along  the  quarter,  he  was  soon  back  by  the 
mizzen  rigging,  and  looking  aloft  he  cried,  "  Hoist  'em  up ; 
sway  'em  taught ;  that  main-topmast  studding-sail  isn't  half 
up ; "  when  quickly  glancing  to  the  helmsman,  he  said,  "  Tom, 
let  her  come  to  a  little." 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  293 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir,  there  she  comes." 

"  Stand  ready  there,  men,"  said  the  captain,  as  he  saw  her 
luff;  "  have  your  turns  all  off.  There  she  shakes  !  now  work 
lively.  There,  belay  all  that.  Give  the  fore  a  small  pull, 
Mr.  Jones,  while,  you're  about  it.  There,  make  that  fast. 
Keep  her  off  now,  Tom  ;  there,  steady  !  Now  coil  away  your 
rigging,  clear  the  decks,  and  let  her  slide." 

As  every  thing  was  done  that  could  accelerate  the  flight 
and  complete  the  fashion  of  his  ship,  Elery  walked  along  by 
the  coop,  and,  stooping  down,  took  Fred  from  his  play,  and  held 
him  up  in  his  arms.  The  boy  drew  off  a  little  from  so  strange 
a  face  so  near  his  own  without  his  consent,  although  a  warm 
and  heart-felt  smile  lit  up  the  manly  features,  and,  bracing  one 
of  his  small  fists  against  the  captain's  shoulder,  while  his  eye 
brows  drew  down  and  his  lips  quivered,  he  asked,  with  half- 
reproachful  accent,  "  Where  be  my  mother  ?  " 

"  Do  you  wish  to  see  her  ? "  inquired  Elery,  in  a  tone  of 
voice  so  tender  and  touching  that  it  startled  the  sailors  who* 
were  near,  and  who  knew  him  only  through  the  decisive  em 
phasis  of  command.  Yet,  strange  to  say,  it  was  a  spell  of 
power  upon  them,  more  potent  for  the  handling  of  that  ship, 
in  the  hour  of  peril,  than  aught  or  all  which  they  had  known 
of  him  before. 

"  Yes,  I  do,"  the  child  replied ;  "  I  want  to  see  her  right 
away." 

"  Well,  then  you  may,"  said  Elery ;  "  and  we  will  go  down 
into  the  cabin  together,  and  see  if  we  can  find  her." 

As  they  turned  to  descend  the  stairs,  Fred  wound  his  little 
arms  around  the  neck  of  the  captain,  as  though  he  had  tested 
his  quality,  and  felt  that  he  might  entirely  trust  in  him.  So 
they  went  down  where  the  mother  lay. 

When  they  had  reached  there,  Francis,  who  had  continued  to 
keep  his  watch,  stepped  softly  away,  and  ascended  to  the  galley. 
25* 


294  THE     M  U  S  T  E  E  ,     OR 

They  found  Flora  in  seeming  slumber,  and  apparently  free 
from  pain  ;  and  when  the  child  saw  her  so  lying,  he  relaxed 
his  hold,  and,  looking  on  her  and  then  on  the  captain  with  a 
smile,  said,  in  rather  a  ringing  tone,  "  Mother  be  asleep." 

But  that  familiar  and  heart-opening  voice  had  power  to 
break  the  spell  and  unseal  the  sight ;  although,  but  a  few  brief 
moments  before,  the  dread  shadow  of  the  eternal  curtain  was 
upon  it. 

Seeing  her  closed  lids  struggle  to  open,  Fred  cried,  "  Moth 
er,  where  you  been  ?  " 

On  this  the  eyes  of  Flora,  looking  out  so  bewildered  at  first, 
began  to  gather  light,  which  in  an  instant  flamed  into  intelli 
gence,  and  overflowed  her  face  with  a  smile.  Then  came  a 
quivering,  and  a  slight  agitation  of  the  muscles,  as  if  the  will 
was  once  more  assuming  sway.  Thereupon  she  slowly  and 
feebly  lifted  up  her  hands  —  her  arms ;  when  the  captain 
gently  laid  the  child  within  them,  and  she  drew  him  to  her 
lips,  to  her  bosom,  while  Elery,  whispering,  "  You  are  safe 
here,"  stepped  out  into  the  cabin ;  yet  paused  a  moment  there 
to  brush  a  tear  from  his  cheek,  as  though  it  were  some  weak 
ness,  rather  than  the  evidence  of  noblest  emotions,  ere  he  as 
cended  to  his  hardy  crew.  As  he  came  on  deck,  he  cast  his 
eyes  aloft,  and  then  looked  over  the  ship's  side  with  evident 
satisfaction. 

While  he  stood  on  the  weather  quarter,  looking  at  the 
clouds,  Mr.  Jones,  walking  along  near  him,  asked,  "  What  do 
ye  think  of  them  to'-gallan'-stu'n-sail  booms,  sir  ?  " 

"  O,  they're  good  wood,  I  believe,"  Elery  replied,  turning 
his  eyes  on  them  ;  "  although  they  are  not  quite  so  straight 
sticks  as  I  thought  they  were.  They  appear  to  be  pointing 
down  river." 

"  And  it's  my  guess  that  they'll  be  goin'  there  soon  if  they 
ain't  taken  in,"  the  mate  followed  up  with. 


LOVE'  AND    LIBERTY.  295 

"  Perhaps,"  replied  Elery ;  "  and  when  they  go  we'll  rig 
out  new  ones,  for  this  ship  has  got  to  show  every  rag  of  can 
vas  to-day  which  she  can  carry ;  and  I  want  to  see  those 
booms  break,  as  then  I  shall  know  that  we  have  found  all  the 
wind  we  can  use." 

"  You'll  have  that  satisfaction  shortly,  if  I'm  any  judge  of 
spruce  poles  ;  for  it  looks  to  me  as  though  that  fish  was  a 
leetle  too  heavy  for  the  tackle.  There,  look  o'  that !  see  him 
spring  ! " 

"  That  was  rather  a  screamer  of  a  flaw,"  the  captain  re 
plied,  with  a  half-doubtful  smile  ;  "  but  it's  smooth  water,  and 
you  will  find  your  neck  aching  before  they  snap,  if  you  under 
take  to  watch  'em." 

"  But  why  do  ye  want  to  drive  her  so,  sir?  " 

"  For  a  number  of  reasons,  Mr.  Jones.  But  chiefly  because 
we  have  a  valuable  cargo  on  board ;  and  most  particularly  on 
account  of  our  having  one  or  two  things  which  were  not  in 
season  to  be  entered  on  the  manifest,  and  therefore  they  re 
quire  despatch  ;  for,  before  the  sun  goes  down  to-night,  we 
shall  see  a  'high-pressure'  in  hot  pursuit  of  us,  or  I'm  no 
judge  of  signs.  When  those  horsemen  left  the  spot  where  we 
spoiled  their  sport,  they  started  for  New  Orleans,  with  a  de 
termined  purpose  ;  and  they  will  go  there  in  an  hour  and  a 
half  from  the  time  they  left,  unless  they  meet  a  steamer  on 
the  way  that  can  do  the  work,  for  there  are  planters  along  the 
whole  route,  and  many  of  them  will  eagerly  give  their  best 
horses  to  the  service,  which  they  regard  as  a  common  defence. 
Consequently  in  two  hours  from  that  time,  they'll  be  in  our 
wake  at  the  rate  of  sixteen  or  eighteen  knots,  at  which  point 
we  may  have  about  forty  miles  the  advantage  ;  and  it  is  not  an 
inch  too  much,  for  by  my  reckoning  she  will  be  so  near  us  at 
that,  before  the  sun  sets,  that  we  can  hear  her  pant !  And  if 
we  keep  this  breeze,  or  even  get  more,  we  shall  be  able  to  see 


296  THE   MUSTEE;  OB 

the  smoke  of  her  wrath,  from  aloft,  by  four  o'clock.  So  you 
perceive  that  prudence,  safety  perhaps,  says,  '  Carry  on,  until 
every  thing  cracks  again ! '  Then,  too,  we  are  loaded  just 
right  for  sailing,  as  we  are  a  few  inches  by  the  head,  and  the 
Muse  only  drops  her  quarters,  as  if  crouching  to  spring,  when 
you  press  her  —  which  brings  her  about  on  an  even  keel,  the 
true  condition  for  great  speed." 

Standing  by  the  mizzen  rigging  —  the  mate  having  crossed 
to  leeward  to  clear  his  mouth  and  take  a  fresh  quid,  where 
with  to  ruminate  the  conjectures  of  his  captain  —  Elery  called, 
"  James  !  "  This  was  the  sailor  who  had  pulled  the  bow  oar 
in  the  rescue. 

As  James  approached,  he  appeared  to  be  less  than  twenty 
years  of  age,  with  a  fresh  and  bright  countenance,  a  small  and 
agile  body,  which  was  dressed  with  that  careless  neatness  that 
makes  the  sailor's  costume  the  most  pleasing  of  all. 

On  his  coming  quite  near,  the  captain  said,  in  a  low  voice, 
"  I  want  you  to  lend  me  your  best  blue  jacket,  the  one  with 
twenty  bright  buttons  on  a  side,  and  the  trousers  to  match ; 
also  some  shirts,  —  white  ones,  mind,  —  with  a  black  ribbon 
to  tie  the  neck,  a  black  belt,  and  that  sennit  hat  which  you 
made,  and  take  them  down  to  my  state  room." 

The  young  sailor  turned  away  with  a  pleased  expression 
playing  over  his  face,  and  entering  the  forecastle,  he,  in  a  few 
minutes,  having  filled  the  order  more  than  full,  conveyed  the 
clothes  to  their  destination,  or,  rather,  to  the  place  designated. 

Soon  thereafter  the  captain  descended ;  and,  as  he  passed 
on  to  his  quarters,  he  heard  a  pleasant  prattling,  that  seemed 
to  remind  him  of  something ;  on  which,  he  opened  his  locker 
of  private  stores,  or  the  medicine  chest,  and,  taking  out  a  de 
canter  of  brandy,  poured  out  a  portion ;  when,  having  filled 
the  glass  with  water,  he  entered  the  apartment  of  his  passen 
gers,  and  said  to  Flora,  "  I  have  here  a  draught  which  I  ought 


LOVE'  AND     LIBERTY.  297 

to  have  thought  of  before  ;  but,  if  you  can  forgive  me  this 
time,  I  will  try  not  to  be  caught  napping  on  my  watch  again." 

Flora  looked  into  the  countenance  of  the  sailor,  so  full  of 
generous  purpose,  and  still  radiant  with  the  light  of  a  noble 
deed,  as  he  said  this ;  but  her  heart  was  too  full  for  speech, 
so  that  her  eyes  overflowed,  her  lips  quivered,  and  her  shoul 
ders  heaved ;  when,  stretching  forth  her  hand,  she  clasped 
Elery's  iron  palm,  —  gauntleted,  as  it  was,  by  his  glorious 
calling,  for  any  and  every  emergency,  —  and,  burying  her 
face  in  the  pillow,  wept  aloud. 

The  sailor  also  wept  —  wept  silently,  wept  great  drops,  like 
the  first  of  a  thunder  shower ;  and  every  drop  so  shed  seemed 
to  choke  his  utterance ;  he  thought  soothing  words,  but  could 
not  say  them. 

The  child,  hearing  the  sobs  of  his  mother,  turned  away  from 
the  port,  where  he  had  been  intently  watching  the  flying  shore, 
with  all  its  waving  woods,  and,  nestling  down,  worked  his  little 
arms  around  her  neck,  and  kissed  her  cheek  again  and  again 
in  silence.  Yet  as  she  appeared  not  to  notice  his  caresses,  he 
said,  "  Don't  cry,  mother ;  what  be  mother  crying  for  ?  Don't 
cry  any  more,  mother."  But  seeing  that  she  still  continued 
on,  with  increased  rather  than  diminished  emotion,  he  lifted 
up  his  head,  and  looking  at  the  captain,  said,  "  You  kiss 
mother ! " 

There  was  high-swelling  agitation  and  awe,  even,  in  that 
scene,  which  the  child,  if  he  saw,  must  wait  many  years  to 
fully  feel  and  appreciate.  For  notwithstanding  Elery's  lips 
had  joined  hers,  so  recently  and  so  closely,  in  the  process  of 
resuscitation,  that  stage  had  passed  now,  and  they  seemed  to 
him  as  unapproachable  as  the  immaculate  stars. 

However,  the  proposed  remedy  aroused  the  weeper.  When, 
withdrawing  her  hand,  she  stilled  all  visible  emotion,  and,  with 
an  expression  of  countenance  such  as  only  great  deliverers 


298  THE     MUSTEE,     OB 

can  win  or  appreciate,  said,  "  I  thought  to  thank  you  "  —  and 
then  the  tears  flowed  again ;  yet,  in  a  moment,  and  with  a  fal 
tering  voice,  she  concluded,  "  but  now  I  fear  that  I  never  can. 
To  be  a  slave  no  more  !  O  God !  can  it  be  ?  Never  again 
—  never ! " 

To  this  the  sailor  tried  to  reply — tried  many  times  ;  and  at 
length  he  said,  "  You  need  not  fear  for  your  freedom  ;  when 
you  are  a  slave  again,  I  shall  be ;  and  your  tears  are  more 
expressive  than  any  words  —  they've  swept  down  on  me  like 
a  tropic  storm.  It's  the  heaviest  blow  I  was  ever  out  in,  so 
that  I'm  completely  waterlogged,  and  don't  feel  like  making  a 
single  move  to  get  seaworthy.  If  the  swell  rises  any  higher 
I  believe  I  shall  go  under." 

Veiling  her  eyes,  Flora  said,  "  It  is  so  noble,  so  marvellous, 
so  much  more  than  I  dared  to  hope,  that  in  climbing  to  thanks 
I  am  swept  down  by  tears  ;  for  I  am  very-  weak,  and  I  hope 
that  my  deliverer  can  wait  till  I  am  stronger." 

"  Yes,  forever  !  But  your  weakness  —  it  was  that  thought 
which  led  me  in  here  with  this  brandy  and  water  ;  so  pray 
oblige  me  by  rising  up  and  drinking  it.  I  think  that  it  will 
do  you  good." 

Flora,  after  a  moment,  did  as  he  requested ;  but  as  she 
swallowed  only  a  part  of  it,  he  placed  the  remainder  near  the 
bed,  and  left  her,  saying,  "  I  must  go  on  deck  now  for  a  short 
time,  and  hope  to  find,  on  my  return,  that  you  have  finished 
the  draught." 

As  he  came  up  from  the  cabin,  Mr.  Jones  said  to  him,  "  I 
have  just  thrown  the  log,  sir,  and  she's  only  going  eleven 
knots.  I  thought  she  was  slipping  easier  than  that." 

"  How  should  she,  when  her  lower  sails  don't  get  wind 
enough  to  straighten  the  tacks,  except  by  flaws?" 

"  It's  more  likely  to  be  the  muddy  water;  but  I  guess  she'll 
keep  out  o'  the  way  of  any  bloody  tug  they  can  start  from  the 
city,  at  that  rate." 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  299 

"  She  may  —  yet  there's  still  a  long  stretch  of  river  ahead ; 
and,  until  the  Muse  takes  a  white  bone  of  the  Gulf  in  her 
mouth,  I  shall  spread  every  pinion  for  flight.  And  you  must 
send  a  man  aloft,  occasionally,  to  see  if  there  is  a  smoke-cloud 
astern,  and  after  four  o'clock  keep  one  there." 

Just  then,  the  steward  passing  from  the  galley,  the  captain 
said,  "  Francis,  what  has  become  of  your  dinner  ?  " 

"  It  has  been  ready  some  time,  sir.  The  men  have  got 
through  a  long  while  ago,  sir." 

"  Well,  you  may  set  it  on,  now,  and  we  will  eat  at  once." 

"  You've  no  occasion  to  say  ive"  said  Mr.  Jones,  "  for  I 
staid  my  stomach  in  the  caboose  more  than  an  hour  ago.  I 
don't  wait  till  this  time  when  there's  grub  cooked  and  I've  got 
a  jackknife  in  my  pocket." 

To  this  the  captain  replied  only  with  a  smile  ;  when,  look 
ing  aloft  a  moment  at  the  booms  and  skysail  masts,  —  leaning 
like  trout  rods  to  the  darting,  dying  beauty  of  the  brooks,  — 
and  casting  a  furtive  glance  over  the  taffrail,  he  disappeared 
from  deck. 


300  THE     MUSTEE,     OR 


CHAPTER    XXX. 

'Twas  twilight,  and  the  sunless  day  went  down 
Over  the  waste  of  waters  like  a  veil, 
Which,  if  withdrawn,  would  but  disclose  the  frown 
Of  one  whose  hate  is  masked  but  to  assail. 

BYRON. 

SEEING  the  table  spread,  as  he  entered  the  cabin,  and  ob 
serving  the  child,  —  who  had  resumed  his  watch  at  the  port, 
—  Elery  said,  "  I  want  you,  my  boy,  to  come  to  dinner  now." 
And  stepping  to  the  door  of  the  state  room,  he  inquired,  "  Will 
mother  have  something  to  eat  also?  But — and  I  should  have 
attended  to  it  before  —  you  must  change  your  wet  Clothes  ; 
and,  as  we  are  where  female  apparel  is  scarce,  you  will  be 
under  the  necessity  of  accepting  something  a  little  different." 

So  going  into  the  after  state  room,  he  returned  in  a  short 
time,  bringing  the  suit  which  the  young  sailor  had  furnished, 
and,  laying  it  down  near  her,  inquired,  "  Do  you  feel  able  to 
get  up  now  ?  " 

Looking  at  the  clothes  a  moment  with  evident  embarrass 
ment,  Flora  replied,  "  I  hope  to  feel  stronger  to-morrow." 

"  Then  you  must  take  dinner,  or  I  fear  you  will  not." 

"  I  shpuld  like  something  to  eat,  if  you  will  be  kind  enough 
to  bring  it  in  to  me,"  said  she,  with  a  faint  smile ;  "  and,  if  you 
please,  you  may  take  Fred  to  the  table." 

The  boy  stretched  out  his  arms  at  the  word,  and  Elery, 
gently  receiving,  placed  him  by  his  side,  where  he  soon  felt  at 
home.  Thenceforward  the  past  was  as  nought  to  the  elastic 
child  ;  the  present  was  all. 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  301 

Having  dined,  the  captain  still  remained,  leading  Fred  to 
ask  questions,  and  answering  them  to  his  particular  satisfac 
tion  and  the  delight  of  the  mother,  who  was  near  enough  to 
hear  all,  when  the  man  at  the  mizzen-topmast-head  called  out, 
"  Smoke  astern  !  " 

On  this  announcement,  Elery  ascended  to  the  deck,  yet  with 
out  hurry,  and  hailing  the  lookout,  inquired,  "  Is  it  a  steam 
boat  ?  " 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir,"  cried  the  sailor ;  "  I  think  I  make  her  out. 
I  believe  I  see  her  smoke  pipe,  sir." 

Thereupon  Elery  swung  into  the  mizzen  rigging,  and,  going 
up  eight  or  ten  ratlines,  looked  long  and  intently.  Then,  slowly 
descending  to  the  deck,  he  walked  musingly  along  the  quarter 
for  some  time.  At  length  the  pitchy  billows  of  smoke  from 
the  pipe  of  the  tug  caught  his  eye  where  he  stood,  and  glan 
cing  up,  he  said,  "  Aloft  there  !  Come  down."  And,  turning 
to  Mr.  Jones,  he  continued,  "  Thank  God  that  we  have  got 
clear  of  the  woods,  and  night  is  coming,  with  clouds  to  help ; 
and,  do  the  best  they  can,  it  will  be  dark  before  they  reach  us. 
Yet  it  will  be  close  work,  and  they  may  lay  us  aboard ;  so  you 
must  call  the  men  aft,  as  I  have  something  to  say  to  them." 

When  the  sailors  had  gathered  near  him,  Elery  said,  "  I 
summoned  you  because  it  is  evident  that  we  are  pursued,  and 
in  a  way  which  may  lead  to  extra  duty.  In  the  rescue  of  the 
morning  we  have  broken  the  laws  of  this  land,  and  our  strain 
ing  sails  are  witnesses  that  we  desire  to  interrupt  still  further 
their  execution.  Yet  I  cannot  find  it  in  my  heart  to  back  a 
single  cloth  of  canvas  ;  on  the  contrary,  I  would  see  it  swell 
to  the  wind  until  it  can  bear  no  more.  And,  if  that  will  not 
save  those  whom  God  has  committed  to  our  protection,  if  the 
pursuers  overtake  and  attempt  to  grapple,  I  am  for  resistance. 
I  have  reached  that  point ;  and,  if  you  feel  as  I  do,  we  will 
meet  them  with  arms,  and  defend  the  fugitives  with  our  lives." 
26 


302  THE    MUSTEE,    OK 

But  observing  their  eager  faces,  he  added,  "  Don't  shout, 
boys  ;  there  isn't  room  here  !  wait  until  we  open  the  Gulf.  I 
see  that  you  are  ready  to  stand  by  them  to  the  last  gasp,  and 
I  am  with  you  ;  so  we  must  prepare  for  it  by  seeing  that  those 
four-pounders  are  well  cleaned  and  loaded ;  and,  James,  you 
go  down  with  Mr.  Jones,  and  get  out  the  cutlasses,  and  give 
them  an  edge." 

As  they  went  below  to  attend  to  the  sharpening  of  the 
"  boarding  brands,"  Flora  looked  out  of  her  state  room  —  for 
she  had  heard  some  of  the  words  of  the  captain  —  and,  seeing 
the  mate  take  out  the  weapons,  inquired,  "  Do  you  apprehend 
any  danger  ?  " 

To  which  that  officer  made  answer,  "  There's  a  steam-tug 
comin'  down,  which  looks  as  though  we're  chased  ;  and,  if  she 
overhauls  the  Muse,  and  is  sarcy  enough  to  grapple,  I  rather 
guess  there'll  be  a  leetle  bit  of  a  fight." 

By  the  time  that  the  warlike  arrangements  were  completed, 
the  dimly  seen  sun  had  set,  and  it  was  growing  dark  apace  — 
for  in  that  latitude  the  twilight  is  short. 

At  length  down  came  the  night,  which  made  visible  the 
flame  of  the  lighthouse  on  the  point  of  the  Pass  ;  and  soon 
the  ship  began  to  feel  the  motion  of  the  Gulf,  and,  gracefully 
bowing  to  its  greeting,  seemed  to  press  on  more  ardently,  as  if 
she  heard  in  the  voices  of  the  waves  the  tones  of  loved 
companions. 

There,  too,  right  in  her  wake,  grew  ever  louder  and  louder 
the  sullen  roar  and  crashing  tramp  of  the  swift  pursuer,  and 
redder  and  redder  glowed  her  eyes  of  fire,  out  from  their 
iron  lids. 

The  winds  wailed  through  the  cordage  of  the  Muse,  but  all 
human  sounds  were  hushed  in  grim  expectancy,  as  these 
brothers  of  yesterday  were  about  to  grapple  unto  death  be 
cause  that  the  Higher  Law,  having  been  rudely  and  wantonly 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  303 

aroused  from  its  embers,  had  illumined  the  darkened  mind  to 
the  assertion  of  its  supremacy. 

On  the  first  intimation  of  danger  Flora  had  arisen  from  her 
couch,  disrobed,  and  put  on  the  young  sailor's  apparel ;  when 
—  with  the  addition  of  the  dirk,  which  she  placed  in  her  belt, 
and  upon  the  hilt  of  which  her  left  hand  rested  —  she  ascended 
to  the  deck  and  stole  unobserved,  under  the  protection  of  the 
friendly  darkness,  to  the  weather  quarter  and  to  the  captain's 
side,  where  he  stood  watching  the  wrathful  approach  of  the 
smoking,  panting- foe. 

At  that  time  they  had  reached  so  far  down  as  to  open  the 
South-west  Pass,  where  the  greater  rake  of  the  wind,  blowing 
across  the  current,  had  set  in  motion  a  chopping  sea,  which 
the  long  ship  disdained  to  notice.  But  when  the  steamer 
came  ploughing  into  the  "  rip,"  it  tossed  her  like  a  clam  shell ; 
so  it  became  evident  that  in  a  sea  way,  with  the  breeze  then 
blowing,  she  might  look  for  the  Muse's  tracks  in  the  morning, 
yet  her  sheeted  form  would  have  glided  beyond  their  vision. 

"  She  has  gained  nothing  for  the  last  five  minutes,"  said  the 
captain ;  "  if  any  thing,  we  drop  her ;  but  she  will  smoothen 
her  water  shortly,  and  then  she'll  come  down  on  us  like  light 
ning !  She's  not  more  than  three  hundred  fathoms  astern 
now,  and  when  she  strikes  over  this  '  rip '  she'll  leap  nearly 
that  distance  ;  so  have  those  guns  wheeled  to  the  weather 
quarter,  and  clear  away  the  ports  ;  and,  Jack,  you  take  charge 
and  direct  them.  James,  you  see  that  a  match  is  ready,  and 
await  my  orders.  Mr.  Jones,  give  out  the  cutlasses." 

Seeing  that  the  person  who  stood  beside  him  —  whom  he 
had  taken  to  be  James  —  did  not  start,  he  looked  round  rather 
sharply,  when,  discovering  that  it  was  Flora,  and  observing  her 
hand  upon  her  weapon,  he  said,  "  Do  you  get  up  for  this,  when 
you  thought  yourself  too  weak  to  take  a  seat  at  table  ?  " 

"  O,  I  am  stronger  now,  and  you  must  let  me  stand  where 


304  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

you  stand,  and  strike  when  you  strike  ;  for  I  should  scorn  my 
self  if  I  thought  that  I  could  shrink  from  my  own  battle,  be 
lieving,  as  I  do  in  my  inmost  soul,  that  extreme  resistance  to 
their  force  will  be  just." 

The  sailors  heard  her  ringing  words,  and  there  was  not  one 
among  them  all  but  felt  that  he  would  give  his  life  for  her,  in 
that  impending  struggle,  as  freely  as  he  would  drink  a  glass  to 
her  health,  when,  on  leaving  the  ship,  he  can  gain  the  license 
of  the  shore. 

At  that  moment,  also,  there  was  a  slight  relief  from  the 
strain,  as  the  ship,  being  in  smooth  water,  was  evidently  draw 
ing  ahead  fast,  while  the  steamer  was  in  the  roughest  part  of 
the  passage. 

But  little  time  elapsed,  however,  before  the  tug  stood  steady 
on  her  keel ;  and  then  it  became  apparent  that  she  was  put 
ting  out  the  uttermost  of  her  strength  to  close  with  the  chase ; 
for  smoke,  like  storm  clouds,  rolled  above  and  to  leeward, 
while  the  blaze  gleamed  and  darted  from  the  summit  of  the 
pipe,  as  if  it  were  the  hand  of  the  Olympian,  launching  his 
thunderbolts.  So  on  she  rushed,  bounding. 

Then,  breaking  through  all  the  din,  arose  the  fierce  barking 
of  enraged  dogs  !  and  Flora  clasped  the  captain's  arm,  for 
she  knew,  as  well  as  he,  the  voices  which  so  pursued  her  steps 
on  that  terrible  morning.  Then  there  came  sharp,  quick 
growls,  as  if  they  were  pulling  down  their  prey ;  and  then 
half-choking  sounds,  seeming  as  though  they  ravined  blood  ! 
Men,  also,  were  seen  rushing  down  the  stairs,  and  moving 
swiftly  before  the  fires,  and  massing  together  with  shoutings 
and  cursings,  and  springing  and  striking  at  the  same  time,  as 
if  they  wrenched  off  the  dogs  or  beat  them  down  !  Yet  the 
boat  rushed  furiously  on,  and  was  within  three  times  her  length 
of  the  chase. 

"  Sight  your  gun  ! "  shouted  Elery,  "  and  level  just  above  the 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  305 

fires,  dead  on  the  boilers !  she  comes  no  nearer  without  an 
swering  —  be  ready  with  your  match  ! " 

On  this,  he  brought  his  speaking  trumpet  to  his  lips,  to  hail 
her ;  but  ere  the  wild,  defiant  tones  struck  their  ears,  the  boat 
opened  midway  through  all  her  length,  like  the  yawn  of  a 
volcano's  crater !  shooting  dark  masses  and  myriad  fragments 
high  into  the  air  —  some  gleaming  red,  all  tipped  with  flame  ! 
And  rushing  after  it  came  a  crash,  a  roar  and  rolling  thunder 
of  explosion,  which,  cracking  the  bending  booms,  and  shaking 
the  Muse  in  every  spar  and  timber,  made  the  "  Father  of 
waters  "  quake  in  his  lowest  bed,  and  flee,  trembling,  through 
all  his  marshy  passes  ! 

As  the  last  splinters  hissed  down  and  were  quenched  in  the 
flood,  to  the  dazzled  eyes  and  deafened  ears  of  the  appalled 
watchers,  the  place  where,  a  moment  before,  the  steamer  had 
strode  over  the  sea  with  steps  so  mighty,  seemed  as  dark  and 
silent  as  the  grave  —  they  could  discern  no  vestige  of  wreck, 
hear  no  voice  of  any  "  strong  swimmer  in  his  agony." 

Thus  shielding  the  fugitives,  and  those  who  gave  them  "  aid 
and  comfort,"  came  the  thick  bosses  of  Jehovah's  buckler  —  so 
struck  and  pierced  the  dread  shaft  of  the  unseen  Avenger ! 

To  the  benumbed  ears  of  the  spectators  how  deep  seemed 
the  stillness  !  as  if  Nature  had  said,  "  Hush  ! "  and  was  lis 
tening  for  the  footsteps  of  an  earthquake  !  Slowly  they  re 
covered  their  sense  of  hearing,  while  the  waves  were  heard  as 
if  sighing,  and  the  winds  moaned  as  though  for  the  dead  and 
the  dying.  Long,  without  speech,  without  motion,  awe-struck 
and  paralyzed,  they  stood ;  for  they  felt  that  a  weapon  mightier 
and  swifter  than  theirs  had  transfixed  the  oppressor  in  his 
exultant  hour,  even  at  the  moment  when  he  was  making  his 
swoop  on  the  wave-cleaving  quarry. 

Yet  on  flew  the  Muse,  with  a  straining  pinion  ;  and,  at 
length,  the  clouds  broke  and  fled  away  from  the  brow  of  the 
26* 


306  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

night,  when  the  moon  came  out  to  welcome  and  cheer  them, 
and  charm  their  recent  terrors  into  pensive  dreams.  Then 
they  looked  up  and  saw  the  serene  heaven  glancing  approval, 
from  its  myriad  eyes,  of  their  deed  and  their  determination  ; 
while  the  west  wind  fanned  and  calmed  their  tumultuous 
pulses  :  thus  the  voices  of  nature,  which  are  always  in  har 
mony  with  great  actions,  breathed  over  them  a  benediction. 
So  sustained,  they  began  to  move  about,  then  to  speak  low  to 
each  other,  until,  after  a  time,  the  tones  of  all  came  up  to  their 
natural  pitch  ;  when  they  talked  of  the  scenes  of  the  day,  the 
fate  of  the  foe,  and  the  freedom  of  the  sea  —  for  the  light,  on 
the  point  of  the  Pass,  was  already  on  the  Muse's  quarter. 

Soon  Elery's  voice  was  heard  in  command ;  when  the 
broken  booms  and  split  studding-sails  were  secured,  the  yards 
rounded  in,  —  as  the  ship  was  running  nearly  before  the  wind, 
—  the  larboard  watch  called,  and  the  course  given. 

There,  too,  was  the  lamp  of  the  lighthouse  fast  sinking  in 
the  waves  ;  and,  as  Flora  stood  watching  its  fading  beams,  the 
captain,  having  completed  his  directions,  came  to  her  side. 
Seeing  where  her  glance  was  directed,  and  observing  that  she 
appeared  downcast,  he  inquired,  "  Are  you  sad  then,  after  all, 
with  the  thought  that  you're  leaving  this  land  ?  " 

"  O,  no !  I  was  thinking  how  the  word  '  forever '  is  mingled 
up  with  the  separation  ;  and  what  deep  and  deadly  wrong  that 
must  be  which  can  change  home  into  the  most  loathsome  and 
terrible  of  places  ;  so  that  every  breath  of  wind,  which  helps 
to  waft  me  from  it,  seems  like  the  waving  of  the  wing  of  some 
protecting  angel." 

a  I  am  glad  that  you  feel  so ;  and  I  will  take  a  parting 
glance  with  you  ;  for  when  it  vanishes  behind  the  waves  to 
night,  on  me,  too,  it  sinks  forever !  I  value  my  freedom  too 
highly  to  venture  there  again." 

"  That,  indeed,  is  what  I  feared.     O.  you  have  made  a  great 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  307 

sacrifice  for  me  and  my  child,  to-day !  and  would  that*  I  could 
express  how  grateful  I  feel,  or  that  I  could  see  any  way  of 
repaying  you." 

lf  Is  not  glory  its  own  meed  ?  You  must  not  think  that  we 
have  made  a  sacrifice  ;  for,  although  the  port  is  closed  to  me 
and  the  Muse,  I  consider  it  of  little  account,  as  the  world  of 
commerce  is  wide,  and  invites  us  to  traverse  every  parallel." 

"  Truly,  I  hope  and  pray  that  you  may  not  suffer  for  your 
devotion  to  me." 

"  Suffer  !  Why,  you  have  this  day  ennobled  me  in  my  own 
esteem.  It  was  your  distress  which  flamed  through  the  dark 
ness  of  my  understanding,  and  taught  me  how  full  of  hell  is 
that  law  which  puts  a  scourge  in  the  bloody  hand,  and  clothes 
with  irresponsible  power  the  lusts  of  the  oppressor.  No  !  I 
would  not  have  this  day  blotted  from  my  memory,  though  with 
it  might  go  all  that  I  could  desire  to  erase  from  that  mysteri 
ous  register." 

Flora  strove  to  reply,  but  her  heart  was  too  full ;  which  the 
sailor  perceiving,  he  drew  her  arm  within  his,  and  turning 
towards  the  cabin,  they  descended  in  silence.  On  reaching  her 
state-room  door  she  looked  up,  and,  smiling  faintly  through  her 
tears,  gave  him  her  hand,  while  she  whispered  a  trembling, 
sweet  good  night,  then  vanished  to  her  place  of  rest ;  there, 
night  long,  to  sink  to  slumber,  from  which  to  be  startled  and 
hunted  by  pursuing  dreams,  until  she  awoke  to  feel  herself 
cradled  on  the  deep,  and  welcomed  by  the  shouting  waves  to 
the  wild  liberty  of  the  ocean. 


308  THE     M US TEE,     OB 


CHAPTER   XXXI. 

Upon  the  gale  she  stooped  her  side, 
And  bounded  o'er  the  swelling  tide, 
As  she  were  dancing  home. 

SCOTT. 

MORNING  came  forth  in  all  its  beauty  over  that  summer 
sea,  while  the  unflagging  wind  still  bore  the  ship  gallantly  on 
her  course.  And  when  the  sun  ascended  from  out  the  waves, 
pouring  the  wine  of  life  from  an  urn  of  gold,  the  glittering 
tide  seemed  a  libation  to  the  Muse  ;  for,  so  far  as  the  eye  could 
range,  she  was  alone  on  the  deep. 

At  such  times  it  is  a  charmed  existence ;  a  life  in  which 
the  old  Sea  Kings  revelled,  and  their  lineal  blood  take  to  it  as 
a  child  seeks  its  mother's  breast.  Of  this  strain  was  Elery  ; 
and  he  was  up  and  walking  the  deck  early,  for  his  beautiful 
ship  had  laid  hold  of  his  affections,  so  that  he  never  tired  of 
watching  her  motions,  or  perfecting  her  finish ;  every  rope's 
end  was  fashioned  into  beauty  ;  every  sail  was  graceful,  and, 
when  spread,  swayed  exactly  to  its  true  place ;  while  the 
rake  or  squaring  of  every  spar  and  yard  yielded  obedience 
and  pleasure  to  his  eye. 

He  observed  every  thing  which  related  to  her ;  not  the  mi 
nutest  escaped.  If  there  was  a  rope-yarn  on  her  polished 
deck,  his  hand  found  it ;  and  if  her  wood  was  marred  in  a 
single  place  that  he  could  not  reach,  you  might  note  him  often 
turning  to  look  over  arid  down  upon  it ;  and,  if  he  could  get 
near  it,  you  would  see  him  sharpen  his  knife  and  pare  it  away 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  309 

with  the  tenderest  care,  as  though  he  were  smoothing  the 
locks  upon  a  daughter's  brow. 

As  the  Muse  had  captivated  Elery  at  first  sight  with  her 
beauty,  so  she  had  kept  him  by  her  singular  excellence,  and 
even  made  him  proud  of  her  qualities  as  a  sailer.  For,  in 
speaking  of  her,  he  said,  "  The  ship  is  not  yet  launched  that 
can  lap  her  weather  quarter  on  a  taught  bow-line,  or  show 
her  the  rake  of  her  stern-post  when  going  large."  Even  a 
careless  eye  could  not  pass  her  without  observing  when  riding 
at  her  anchors  ;  while  here  she  rose  on  the  sight,  a  bright  con 
summate  flower,  as  if  the  waste  ocean  had  unfolded  into  bloom. 

The  morning  was  far  advanced  when  Flora  ascended  to  the 
deck,  for  her  late  slumbers  had  been  calm  and  deep,  so  that 
she  awoke  refreshed.  When  she  emerged  from  the  companion- 
way,  she  paused  to  look  on  the  right  hand  and  on  the  left,  as  it 
was  the  first  time  in  her  life  in  which  she  had  beheld  illimit 
able  water ;  all  around  the  glad  waves  were  tossing  their 
white  caps  and  laughing  in  their  play,  while  among  them  the 
Muse  clove  her  way  with  swift  and  graceful  motion,  as  some 
queenly  beauty  glides  through  the  measures  of  a  dance  to  soft 
and  melodious  music. 

"  Is  this  the  sea  ? "  said  Flora,  as  the  captain  came  near 
her ;  "  the  creature  which  I  imagined  to  be  so  full  of  dread, 
so  wild  and  savage  of  feature.  Never  have  I  seen  the  sun 
ascend  so  royally  the  morning,  or  take  such  complete  posses 
sion  of  the  world  of  vision.  Then  this  is  the  ocean  —  and 
how  gorgeous  in  its  beauty  !  I  can  see  now  how  it  inspired 
Byron  to  sing  so  eloquent  a  song ;  and  how  as  a  boy  he  loved 
to  wanton  with  its  breakers  and  be  borne  like  its  bubbles  on 
ward.  O,  if  this  be  a  fair  specimen  of  voyaging,  my  chief 
regret  will  be  when  I  find  it  drawing  to  a  close." 

"  It  is  a  grand  picture  to  a  few,  though  not  to  many.  I 
foared  yon  might  be  hoping  (he  cruise  would  soon  end." 


810  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

"  0,  no  ;  yet  I  should  like  to  know  where  we  are  bound, 
and  when  we  are  likely  to  arrive." 

"  If  fortune  favor  us,  the  voyage  will  be  completed  in  the 
course  of  ten  or  twelve  days,  in  the  port  of  New  York." 

But  observing  her  face  grow  thoughtful,  and  then  sad,  he 
resumed,  saying,  "  When  I  saw  you  come  on  deck  you  seemed 
full  of  the  joy  of  the  hour  and  the  brightness  of  the  season, 
and  I  was  glad.  Was  it  a  mistake,  or  have  you  changed  ?  " 

"  I  was  thinking,"  she  replied,  with  a  sad  smile. 

"  I  shall  not  object  to  that.  Yet  let  me  hope  that  you  will 
not  allow  any  thought  of  the  future  to  press  in  and  perplex 
you,  for  an  escape  which  opened  with  such  striking  fortune 
I  do  not  believe  can  darkly  close." 

"  O,  it  was  not  the  future,  but  the  past,  which  rose  up  be 
fore  me ;  and,  although  it  can  have  none  other  than  a  sorrow 
ful  reception,  I  fear  that  neither  the  security  nor  the  peace  of 
coming  years  can  wholly  charm  it  away,  — 

'  For  I  am  as  a  weed 
Torn  from  a  rock,  on  ocean's  foam  to  sail.'  " 

"I  have  imagined  that  yours  was  a  sad,  perhaps  a  terrible, 
story  ;  and  you  must  tell  it  to  me  some  time.  I  should  like  to 
hear  it,  and  besides  it  may  be  some  relief  to  you." 

"  It  gives  me  pleasure  to  feel  that  one  who  is  entitled,  by 
the  circumstances  which  have  placed  us  near,  to  know  that 
story,  has  a  right  by  nature  as  well ;  and,  on  some  suitable 
occasion,  you  shall  learn  all  which  is  mine  to  communicate  — 
in  some  brooding  night,  or  some  stormy  day,  perhaps,  when 
images  of  sadness  more  naturally  possess  the  mind  ;  but  it  is 
too  sunny  and  cheerful  now.  Pray  tell  me,  is  this  life  on  the 
ocean  ?  Do  you  often  see  such  a  day  as  this  ?  " 

"  O,  yes,  frequently.  At  this  season  of  the  year  it  is  so 
common  that  it  may  continue  through  the  passage  as  bright 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  811 

and  cloudless  as  to-day ;  and  you  must  cheer  up  and  take  the 
enjoyment  which  it  offers.  But,  by  the  way,  where  is  Fred  ? 
I  have  not  seen  or  heard  of  him  this  morning." 

"  I  left  him  looking  out  of  that  little  round  window,  for  I 
could  not  find  his  clothes ;  and  I  should  think  that  he  had 
tossed  them  all  out  through  that  place  into  the  water,  if  my 
own  appropriate  apparel  had  not  disappeared  also.'1 

"  Francis,"  called  the  captain.  And  the  steward  making 
his  appearance,  he  inquired,  "  Do  you  know  any  thing  of  the 
boy's  clothes  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir ;  I  took  them  away,  and  have  washed  'em,  sir." 

"  Are  they  dry  yet  ?  " 

"  I  believe  so,  sir ;  but  I  was  just  trying  'em  when  you 
called,  sir." 

"  That's  well ;  and  take  them  below  as  soon  as  you  have 
them  ready.  You  took  away  the  lady's  clothes  also,  I  sup 
pose  :  are  they  dry  ?  " 

"  No,  sir ;  I  hung  them  in  the  sun  ;  there  wasn't  room  in  the 
galley,  sir." 

"  Well,  you  will  return  those,  when  dry,  to  the  place  where 
you  found  them." 

"But  I  starched  'em,  and  they'll  need  ironin',  sir." 

"  Is  that  all  ?  At  the  time  when  I  noticed  them  last,  they 
appeared  as  though  some  one  might  have  to  handle  a  palrn  and 
needle,  for  a  watch  or  two,  before  they  would  be  fit  to  set  again." 

"  I  can  do  that  too,  sir." 

"  See,  then,  that  you  do  not  discredit  your  ship." 

On  this  Francis  turned  away,  smiling,  and  disappeared  in 
the  galley ;  and  Flora  said,  "  I  am  afraid  that  he  will  find  it  a 
difficult  task." 

"  It  may  be ;  yet  I  think  he  will  repair  them  so  that  they'll 
do  to  spread  when  we  go  into  port ;  and  in  the  mean  time  you 
must  wear  such  o-ear  as  our  chests  contain." 


312  THE    MUSTEE,   OR 

To  this  Flora  made  no  reply,  other  than  to  look  her  thanks 
and  her  embarrassment  together,  as  she -turned  to  follow 
Francis  below  for  the  purpose  of  dressing  her  child. 

She  soon  returned  with  Fred,  who  bounded  away  from  the 
caresses  of  the  captain,  after  a  few  moments,  to  see  his  old 
acquaintance  in  the  coop.  So  Flora  sat  down  upon  it  to  gaze 
out  over  the  ocean,  and  Elery,  joining  her  there,  said,  "  I  have 
some  books  below,  if  you  choose  to  read  ?  " 

"  O,  not  now,  not  to-day ;  for  this  great  volume,  which  is 
thus  open  to  me,  seems  more  novel  and  more  charming  than 
any  book  ;  it  may  tire  in  the  perusal ;  indeed  I  have  heard  that 
it  does,  yet  I  cannot  conceive  how  ! " 

"  You  talk  like  a  true  sailor.  In  all  my  cruising  I  have 
never  felt  what  is  called  the  monotony  of  sea  life.  I  cannot 
read  on  deck  while  the  ship  is  under  way,  for  my  attention 
will  not  stick  to  the  lettered  page.  I  try  hard  sometimes,  but 
only  to  find  myself  lured  off  by  the  motion  of  the  vessel,  the 
music  of  the  waters,  or  the  whispers  of  the  winds  ;  and  there 
is  an  exhilaration  in  the  air,  also,  which  will  not  allow  me  to 
sit  still,  but  keeps  me  moving  about  deck.  Yes,  you  may  well 
prefer  this  page,  for  it  is  more  suggestive  than  any  that  man 
has  made,  and  flashes  with  gems  which  genius  can  neither 
quarry  nor  polish.  Borne  up  by  the  breeze  and  illumined  by 
the  sunshine,  the  waves  take  captive  my  eyes,  and  lead  me  to 
hearken  to  their  voices.  Yet  a  first  voyage  will  hardly  win 
one  so  to  view  it,  and  most  people  will  never  do  so ;  for  great 
things  improve  on  acquaintance  only  to  those  who  can  appre 
ciate  them.  But  do  you  not  dread  sea-sickness  ?  " 

"  Never  having  experienced  it,  I  have  not  the  best  knowl 
edge  of  its  nature ;  yet  if,  as  I  suspect,  the  feeling  spring  in  a 
great  measure  from  fear,  I  intend  not  to  be  infected  with  it." 

"  I  have  never  thought  of  that  as  a  cause  ;  still  there  may 
be  something  in  the  idea,  as  the  way  to  avoid  the  disturbance, 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  313 

according  to  my  experience,  is  to  offer  no  resistance  to  the 
motion  of  the  vessel,  but  go  with  her,  wherever  she  tumbles, 
without  a  thought ;  and  I  suppose,  on  the  whole,  one  must 
have  no  fears  in  order  to  do  that.  Yet  I  have  heard  of  those 
whose  trouble  custom  could  not  alleviate,  and  no  application 
but  the  firm  earth  would  effectually  compose." 

So  passed  the  hours ;  so  came  to  her  sight,  for  the  first 
time,  a  tropical  sunset  at  sea  —  the  most  gorgeous  picture 
which  Nature  displays  in  the  rotunda  that  bounds  our  vision  ; 
for  it  is  only  there  that  she  unrolls  all  her  banners  to  welcome 
the  regal  orb  from  his  victorious  march ;  only  there  that  the 
King  of  Day,  in  royal  profusion,  strows  choicest  purple  and 
gold  over  the  heavens,  as  he  retires  into  his  pavilion  of 
clouds. 

On  the  third  morning  out,  there  was  a  cry  of  "  Land,  ho ! " 
and  Flora,  hearing  the  words,  hastened  to  the  deck,  when 
there  it  lay,  in  full  view,  with  the  green  waves  rolling  and 
leaping  around,  as  if  to  hang  their  white  fringes  on  the  rocks. 
And,  inward  from  the  coast,  the  pale  blue  vapor,  with  which 
night  had  clothed  hill-side  and  valley,  was  rising  and  vanish 
ing,  or  awaiting  the  touch  of  the  sunbeams  to  be  transmuted 
into  silver  and  gold.  Then,  as  the  mist  rolled  away  or  melted 
into  air,  the  palms  —  the  fairest  conception  of  the  teeming 
earth  —  appeared  waving  their  royal  branches  in  the  breeze, 
and  seeming  a  giant  race  of  Indian  braves,  decorated  with 
their  war  plumes,  and  advancing  through  the  fog  to  look  upon 
the  wondrous  bird  of  the  deep,  as  erst  their  ancestors  gazed 
on  the  white-winged  ships  of  Columbus.  To  Flora's  mind 
the  scene  opened  with  all  the  freshness  of  discovery,  while  to 
her  eye  it  gave  a  most  lovely  picture  ;  for  the  Muse  was  just 
at  that  distance  which  made  it  seem 

"  A  silent  isle  on  which  the  lovesick  sea 
Dies  with  faint  kisses  and  a  murmured  joy." 
27 


314  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

"  This,"  said  the  captain,  as  he  came  to  her  side,"  is  the 
most  enchanting  region  that  we  shall  see  on  the  passage." 

"  O,  there  is  a  sweet  witchery  as  we  so  approach  !  It  seems 
as  if  coming  to  meet  us.  Just  see  how  those  waves  leap  up 
like  dogs  in  emulous  fondness,  and  touch  their  lips  to  the  faces 
of  the  rocks  !  What  land  is  it  ?  " 

"  It  is  Cuba  ;  and  we  are  fast  opening  the  Moro.  If  you 
will  step  a  little  farther  to  starboard  you  can  see  the  Havana 
now,  with  the  ships  at  their  anchors." 

"  Which  way  is  starboard  ?  " 

"  Excuse  me ;  but  looking  forward,  as  you  do  now,  it  is  on 
your  right  hand." 

On  this  she  went  over  to  the  side  indicated,  with  the  sailor, 
and  there  lay  the  white  city ;  perhaps  the  most  charming 
winter  residence  on  the  globe,  to  him  who  wishes  to  give 
some  time  to  communion  with  nature,  as  well  as  to  luxury  and 
amusement,  and  loves  the  sun's  smile  and  the  south  wind's 
caresses. 

"  Keep  her  off,  now,"  said  Elery,  turning,  as  he  had  hauled 
in  closer  than  usual  for  vessels  not  intending  to  enter  the 
port,  that  Flora  might  have  a  full  view  of  the  place,  "  and  let 
her  run  down  by  the  lay  of  the  land." 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir,"  replied  the  helmsman ;  "  there  she  goes." 

"  Square  the  yards  ;  we're  running  dead  afore  it." 

When  that  was  done,  turning  towards  Flora, he  said,  "That 
studding-sail  has  rather  cut  off  our  prospect.  Suppose  we 
walk  forward." 

Flora  gladly  assenting,  they  went  on  to  the  top-gallant-fore 
castle,  where,  standing  in  the  shadow  of  the  head  sails,  while 
the  fresh  breeze  from  the  foot  of  the  swelling  foresail  fanned 
them,  they  saw  that  island  which  Spain  taxes,  and  the  nations 
covet,  set  in  the  flowing  girdle  of  the  sea. 

"  What  golden  light  floods  all  the  landscape ! "  she  exclaimed ; 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  315 

"  how  strange,  how  beautiful,  and  how  exalted  above  any 
which  I  have  viewed,  the  land  appears  !  as  in  all  my  life  I 
have  seen  no  hill  until  now." 

"  The  Lower  Mississippi  is  not  the  most  favored  portion  of 
the  earth  in  some  particulars,"  said  Elery  ;  "  and  I  think  my 
self,  that  this  would  be  more  agreeable  to  live  on,  or  be  buried 
in,  than  the  reeking  swamp  which  is  known  by  the  name  of 
Louisiana." 

But  catching  a  glimpse  where  she  stood  of  the  sheeted  foam 
that  flashed  on  the  parting  waves  beneath  the  Muse's  prow, 
Flora  stepped  forward,  and,  leaning  over,  saw  those  pearly 
splendors  on  which  the  lover  of  the  sea  never  tires  of  gazing. 
In  a  few  moments  she  became  so  absorbed  that  she  reclined 
by  the  anchor  and  said  no  more.  So  the  sailor  left  her  to 
gaze  on  the  ocean's  charms,  the  severing  sapphire,  the  crystal 
and  purple  foam  bells,  with  the  dolphins  dividing  the  sun 
beams  into  all  beauteous  colors  as  they  darted  lithely  on  ;  and 
when  filled  with  these  to  be  borne  far  away  on  the  wings  of 
her  musing. 

Long  was  the  view  and  sweet  the  dream,  as  when  she  rose 
up  and  looked  around  the  island  had  nearly  faded  from  the 
horizon  — that  island  which  we  do  not  need  now,  and  therefore, 
if  wise,  could  see  pass  to  any  or  every  power  in  Europe  with 
out  a  stroke  of  war  or  even  a  breath  of  diplomacy.  Indeed, 
when  it  shall  become  necessary  to  us,  it  will  matter  little  who 
has  possession ;  we  can  go  and  take  it ;  and  not  that  alone,  for 
when  the  limits  of  my  country  are  defined,  when  she  com 
pletes  her  coronation  robes,  every  gem  of  the  Antilles  will  be 
found  on  the  hem  of  her  purple. 


316  THE     MUSTEE,     OB 


CHAPTER    XXXII. 

I  will  send  his  ransom, 

And,  being  enfranchised,  bid  him  come  to  me; 
'Tis  not  enough  to  help  the  feeble  up, 
But  to  support  him  after. 

SHAKSPEAKE. 

FLOKA  was  fast  becoming  a  lover  of  the  sea ;  so  that  on 
ward  to  the  close  of  the  voyage,  when  Fred  had  retired  for 
the  night,  she  might  be  seen  taking  her  place  by  the  cathead 
to  watch  the  flying  waves,  the  seething  surge,  and  the  phos 
phoric  flames ;  and  there,  too,  on  nearly  every  time  of  her 
watching,  as  if  conscious  of  their  admirer's  presence,  came  a 
shoal  of  porpoises,  playing  and  snorting,  and  leaving  long  trails 
of  fire  in  the  clear  blue  water,  as  they  darted  onward  or  around 
in  their  races  with  the  Muse. 

One  evening,  when  Flora  had  been  looking  over  the  bow 
some  time  after  the  porpoises  had  closed  their  wild  play,  and 
departed  in  a  direct  line  for  another  ship  whose  dusky  form 
was  dimly  seen  on  the  horizon's  verge,  the  captain  went  for 
ward,  and  leaning  down  by  her  side,  said,  "I  have  come, 
hoping  that  now  you  will  tell  me  your  story." 

Flora  thought  of  it  for  a  moment,  and  then,  speaking  low, 
so  that  her  words  were  muffled  by  the  moaning  of  the  solemn 
sea,  she  narrated  her  early  life,  her  love,  her  sorrow,  and  her 
oppression. 

The  sailor  was  startled  into  exclamation  a  number  of  times 
during  the  narration  ;  and  when  she  had  fully  finished,  so  that 
she  looked  up  to  his  face  inquiringly,  he  said,  "  It  is  more  than 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  317 

I  had  imagined,  both  in  light  and  shade ;  in  truth,  the  artist 
who  adds  any  thing  to  the  human  form  when  he  paints  a  devil, 
has  but  little  knowledge  of  man ! "  and  then,  pausing  a  mo 
ment,  in  that  diffidence  which  checks  the  admiration  of  the 
noble,  he  added,  in  tones  pure  from  all  tinsel  of  compliment, 
"  and  yet  more  shallow  is  the  idea  in  drawing  the  outline  of 
an  angel." 

Flora  was  so  struck  with  the  lofty  and  sympathetic  nature 
of  the  sailor  that  she  confessed  to  it  in  silence  ;  and  for  a  mo 
ment  her  heart  inclined  to  him  with  the  tenderest  emotions. 

But  soon  Elery  said,  in  a  low  and  even  an  agitated  tone,  as 
if  he  arose  from  much  deeper  thoughts,  "  You  have  made  me 
a  brother  by  your  confidence  ;  and,  now  that  I  have  been  ad 
mitted  to  an  acquaintance  with  the  past,  let  us  glance  towards 
the  future ;  let  me  tell  you  my  scheme,  that  which  is  in  my 
mind  for  you  to  do  when  the  voyage  has  closed.  I  have  a 
cottage,  pleasantly  situated  in  the  town  of  Greenville,  not  far 
from  the  city,  which  needs  attention  ;  and  I  want  you  and 
Fred  to  go  out  and  live  there,  to  take  care  of  the  fruits  and 
flowers  while  I  am  at  sea ;  for  when  I  sail  again  I  may  not 
return  in  two  years,  and,  if  no  one  live  in  it,  —  and  no  one 
will  unless  you  do,  —  I  shall  come  home  to  find  the  fences 
carried  off,  the  trees  broken  down,  and  all  the  vines  torn  from 
their  trellises." 

"  Is  there  any  thing  that  I  can  find  to  do  there  by  which  I 
may  earn  a  living  ?  " 

"  The  care  of  the  place  will  pay  for  the  living ;  that,  of 
course,  is  for  me  to  see  to  and  provide  for." 

Flora  looked  at  him  a  moment,  searchingly,  when  she  said, 
"  My  way  of  life  has  been  so  secluded  that  I  am  ignorant  in 
such  things,  and  you  must  not  help  to  deceive  me.  If  you 
respect  me,  as  I  hope  you  do,  you  will  not  consult  your  gen 
erosity,  but  rather  my  independence,  when,  having  given  me 
27* 


318  THE     MUSTEE,     OR 

freedom,  you  are  about  to  open  to  me  a  fairer  field  and  a  higher 
life.  I  know  that  I  can  work,  and  it  is  my  desire  to  win  my 
support ;  so  much  so  that  to  point  out  and  help  me  on  that 
path  will  be  to  answer  my  most  constant  prayer,  and  be  re 
membered  as  the  instrument  of  a  guiding  and  protecting  Prov 
idence.  I  shall  know  how  to  make  labor  welcome,  for  I  leave 
that  behind  me,  the  memory  of  which  will  carry  cheerfulness 
into  toil,  and  link  patience  to  hardship.  Indeed,  personal  lib 
erty  seems  a  pearl  of  such  price  that  all  beside  appears  trivial. 
I  would  not  speak  too  confidently,  seeing  that  I  have  accom 
plished  nothing ;  yet,  if  time  and  circumstance  leave  me 
strength  and  freedom,  I  hope  never  to  be  heard  complaining." 

"  But  you  are  not  strong,  and  I  think  that  you  are  not  in 
good  health  ;  although,  whenever  I  inquire,  you  say  you  are 
quite  well.  Then  they  who  have  not  been  accustomed  to  work 
will  find  any  place  difficult  to  fill,  however  humble  it  may  be ; 
and  female  labor  is  ill  paid  at  the  best,  for  the  employments  to 
which  woman  is  restricted  are  over-full ;  consequently  desirable 
situations  are  not  easily  obtained,  and  sewing  is  said  to  be 
wholly  unremunerative,  unless  night  and  day  are  devoted 
to  it." 

"  I  have  some  skill  with  my  needle,  and  it  is  such  employ 
ment  that  I  hope  to  find." 

"  Yes,  and  keep  housed  until  you  lose  flesh  and  spirit,  and 
become  so  diseased  that  the  green  earth  shall  be  unwhole 
some  and  the  fresh-bracing  air  a  torture  !  Do  you  think  I 
can  see  that  after  my  bloody  cold-heartedness  in  letting  you 
nearly  drown  ?  " 

"  Did  I  ?     I  have  hardly  had  time  to  recur  to  it." 

"  Well,  God  knows  I  have !  and  I  think  always  what  a  sav 
age  you  must  thought  me,  when  I  shoved  my  boat  from  your 
bleeding  feet,  and  was  deaf  to  your  beseeching  prayer.  It 
seems  to  me  now  that  I  could  never  have  approached  or  spoken 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  319 

to  you  again,  if  over  that  barbarous  act  there  had  not  opened 
a  prospect  for  generous  purpose  ;  and  nothing  can  ever  recon 
cile  me  to  myself  if  you  refuse  the  terms  of  my  redemption. 
I  will  seek  after  no  excuse  for  what  I  then  did,  as  there  can 
be  no  semblance  of  one  except  in  the  long  catalogue  of  sub 
terfuge.  Yet  this  I  may  say,  that,  having  no  connections  save 
those  who  were  in  easy  circumstances,  and  being  myself  al 
ways  in  perfect  health,  and  never  seeing  or  suffering  ship 
wreck,  and  no  striking  distress  ever  turning  to  appeal  to  me 
until  this  came,  I  had  grown  incredulous  of  great  calamity. 
But,  at  length,  I  hope  that  I  am  awake ;  and  will  you  say  that 
I  have  aroused  too  late  ?  I  have  the  means  and  the  desire  to 
place  you  in  a  comfortable  condition ;  and,  seeing  this  as  you 
should  see  it,  how  can  you  close  against  me  the  only  path  by 
which  I  hope  to  return  to  humanity  ?  " 

Flora  was  too  much  moved  to  reply ;  and  observing  it,  he 
resumed,  saying,  "  Grant  me  this  and  you  will  give  me  a  mo 
tive  for  exertion.  Then  I  can  spread  my  canvas  to  the  winds 
with  a  stout  heart,  and  meet  the  shocks  of  life  with  an  elastic 
spirit.  The  memory  of  those  who  have  trusted  in  me  will 
keep  me  on  noble  courses,  and  be  as  a  magnet  when  all  land 
marks  are  lost  and  the  stars  obscured.  This  hope,  let  me  im 
press  upon  you,  is  no  impulse  of  the  moment;  it  illumined  my 
soul  when  I  first  stood  beside  you,  in  the  hour  of  your  weeping, 
with  your  hand  in  mine  ;  and,  sheer  wreck  as  I  was,  it  kept 
me  above  the  waves  !  To  that,  as  to  a  spar,  I  have  clung ; 
and  can  you  now  wrench  off  my  grasp  to  see  me  go  down  in 
the  abyss  ?  " 

On  this  Flora  scbbod  through  her  tears.  "  It  shall  be  as 
you  wish ;  I  am  satisfied ;  O,  how  satisfied !  Was  it  selfish 
in  me  to  doubt  ?  How  could  I  believe  in  such  generosity  in. 
a  stranger,  seeing  what  I  have  seen !  Yet  how  natural,  how 
necessary  you  make  it  appear!  so  that  I  feel  it  would  be 


320  TEE    M  US  TEE,     OR 

ungrateful  in  me  to  refuse.  Still,  as  the  way  of  payment  is 
all  dark  before  me,  your  kind  words  make  me  both  sad  and 
glad ;  although  I  know  that  it  is  only  adding  a  trifle  more  to 
the  weight  of  obligation ;  for  the  fate  from  which  you  snatched 
my  child  and  me  is  a  mighty  debt,  not  to  be  thought  of  now, 
or  ever,  without  streaming  tears,  nor  whispered  save  in  ben 
ediction.  But  that  is  passed ;  while  the  sentiments  which  you 
have  expressed  to-night  shine  over  the  future  in  clear  and 
cheerful  light  —  making  the  clouds  which  hung  there,  and  the 
distress  that  full  likely  lurked  beneath  their  folds,  to  vanish 
away.  It  may  be  all  weakness,  yet  my  hear^t  presses  me  to 
sanction  your  generous  purpose." 

"  Say,  then,  that  you  accept  my  proposition,  and  make  me 
strong  again." 

"  It  shall  be  as  you  will ;  and  O,  most  thankful  am  I,  to  you 
and  to  Heaven,  that  my  way  is  made  so  smooth  before  me." 

Reclining  there  they  were  silent,  silent  long ;  and  in  silence 
the  moon  in  the  mid  heavens  flung  around  them  the  wan 
writchery  of  her  beams,  while  the  winds  whispered,  and  the 
sea  half  suppressed  its  moan ;  though,  after  a  while,  the  dull 
notes  of  the  porpoises  were  heard,  as  they  came  blowing 
through  the  swell,  to  kindle  their  trails  of  fire  around  the 
softly-moving  Muse  —  yet  they  heeded  them  not;  for  they 
were  rapt  and  gazing  into  that  interior,  more  august  and 
glorious,  world  that  opens  beneath  the  many-colored  bow  of 
hope  which  is  rounded  by  an  Orb,  that  we  cannot  behold,  on 
the  passing  clouds  of  life. 

At  length  there  were  a  few  murmured  words  between  them, 
when,  rising  up,  they  went  to  the  cabin.  And  not  one  among 
all  whom  the  proud  and  prosperous  envy  passed  down,  that 
night,  either  on  land  or  sea,  to  the  realm  of  dreams,  with  more 
chastened  spirits,  more  holy  purpose,  or  more  grateful  hearts, 
than  did  this  sailor  and  this  slave. 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  321 

The  weather  continued  fine  until  they  were  nearly  up  to 
Hatteras,  when  they  had  a  heavy  gale,  with  occasional  show 
ers  ;  yet  Flora,  in  rubber  coat,  boots,  and  sou'wester,  kept  the 
deck  —  for  it  was  a  new  scene,'' and,  to  her,  singularly  at 
tractive. 

The  wind  was  fair,  but  furious ;  so  that  the  Muse  had  re 
duced  her  canvas  to  a  short  jacket,  showing  only  double- 
reefed  topsail  and  foretopmast  staysail.  The  sea  was  not 
"  wicked,"  although  it  ran  high  ;  so  that,  when  the  sun  broke 
through  the  smoke  of  the  Gulf  Stream,  —  as  it  did  frequently, 
flashing  on  the  raving  surge,  and  transforming  the  waves  to 
emeralds,  —  it  became  a  glorious  as  well  as  a  thrilling  spec 
tacle.  But  the  sails,  which  they  were  occasionally  meeting 
or  overtaking,  were  the  crowning  charms ;  now  plunging  or 
rolling  deep  down,  —  as  their  courses  might  be,  —  their  bright 
sheathing  gleamed  in  the  sun  almost  to  their  keels  ;  while  far 
out  on  the  slim  yards  the  sailors,  handing  or  reefing,  were 
tossed  to  the  clouds,  or  bowed  to  the  billows ;  and,  beneath 
and  around,  the  brine  was  all  white  with  the  wrath  of  the 
warriors  of  the  deep,  at  seeing  their  crushed  ranks  and  cloven 
crests  ;  yet  on  and  over  them  rushed  and  bounded  the  ships, 
victorious  as  Murat  when  he  broke  through  the  hostile  horde 
of  mamelukes  in  the  battle  of  Mount  Tabor,  thick  sprinkled, 
but  only  with  the  blood  of  his  foes. 

Fred  had  long  since  become  the  pet  and  companion  of  the 
sailors,  and  took  his  rations  in  the  top-gallant  forecastle  when 
ever  he  chose,  which  was  nearly  as  often  as  the  hour  came 
round  —  for  he  was  afraid  that  they  would  do  something  which 
he  should  not  see.  From  the  first  day  out  he  had  watched 
the  splicing  of  every  rope  and  halliard,  the  tying  of  every  knot, 
and  the  platting  of  every  rope-yarn  ;  and  in  oakum-picking  he 
had  come  to  be  at  home.  But,  more  fascinating  than  all  these, 
or  aught  else,  his  particular  friend  James,  in  his  leisure  hours, 


322  THE    MUSTEE,    OB 

was  rigging  a  little  ship,  an  exact  model  of  tlie  Muse,  and 
upon  which  the  child's  heart  was  set  with  absorbing  admi 
ration. 

It  being  a  stormy  day,  James  was  in  the  forecastle  at  work 
upon  his  craft,  while  Fred  was  closely  watching  as  he  set  up 
the  royal  rigging,  rove  the  braces,  and  gave  the  completing 
touches.  At  length,  putting  away  his  balls  of  thread  and 
twine,  and  closing  his  knife,  he  held  his  vessel  off  at  arms' 
distance,  and  took  a  careful  and  pleased  survey  of  the  minia 
ture  ;  which  Fred  observing,  he  inquired,  "  Be  she  all  done 
now  ?  " 

"  I  believe  she  is,  bub  ;  her  riggin'  is  all  on,  and  set  up." 

"  But  where  be  her  sails  ?  " 

"  O,  she  isn't  launched  yet ;  it'll  be  time  enough  to  bend 
sails  then." 

«  What  is  launched,  Mr.  James  ?  " 

"  Floatin'  on  the  water,  little  freshy." 

"  Who  did  you  make  her  for  ?  "  Fred  further  pressed,  lean 
ing  in  the  sailor's  lap  and  looking  up  anxiously  in  his  face. 

"I  made  her  for  myself,"  James  answered,  turning  his 
glance  aside. 

"  0,  you've  got  a  great  big  ship  ;  and  Fred  want  the  little 
ship  —  he  wants  it  dreffully." 

"  I've  had  a  boy  in  my  eye  some  time,  who,  I  suppose,  must 
have  it,  if  he  wants  it  as  much  as  I  think  he  does." 

On  this  Fred's  face  drooped  sorrowfully,  while  he  glanced 
at  the  prize ;  which  James  observing,  sa4<J,  "  If  you  want  to 
see  that  little  boy  you  must  kiss  me,  and  look  for  him  in  my 
eyes.  Then  you  may  ask  him  for  the  ship,  if  you  think  he'll 
give  it  to  you." 

So  encouraged,  Fred  scrambled  into  the  sailor's  lap,  kissed 
him,  and  looked  sharply  into  his  friendly  orbs  ;  when,  in  an 
instant,  he  cried  out,  "  I  know  who  it  is ;  it  is  me  !  isn't  it  me  ?  " 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  323 

The  kiss  and  kindly  smile  of  James  were  full  confirmation 
of  his  sight ;  and,  while  straightening  his  back  to  slide  down 
from  the  knee,  he  said,  "  I  want  to  go  and  tell  my  mother." 
So  off  he  darted,  through  the  rain,  to  the  quarter  deck.  Catch 
ing  Flora's  hand  in  both  of  his,  he  swung  round  by  that  sup 
port,  saying,  "  I've  got  a  little  ship,  mother  !  "  when,  pulling 
her  with  fiery  impatience,  he  added,  "  and  I  want  you  to  come 
right  away  and  see  it." 

James  had  kept  his  eye  on  Fred,  and  seeing  him  leading  his 
mother  towards  tlieijr  quarters,  —  though  not  very  rapidly,  as 
the  motion  of  the  ship  made  their  course  rather  devious,  —  he 
called  out  to  the  men  who  were  lying  about,  some  in  their 
berths  and  some  on  chests,  "  Boys,  you'd  better  turn  out,  for 
the  lady's  beating  up,  and  she'll  fetch  in  here  with  a  tack  or 
two  more ! " 

On  that  announcement  the  sailors  hove  short  quick,  catching 
up  and  hastily  using  little  looking  glasses  and  combs ;  while 
Jim  hurriedly  brushed  the  litter  into  one  corner,  with  an  old 
shoe,  and  turned  a  kid  over  it. 

It  was  all  pretty  rapidly  done,  however ;  for,  when  Flora 
and  Fred  entered,  they  appeared  to  be  deeply  interested  in 
ancient  newspapers  and  tattered  books,  which  last  seemed  to 
have  done  their  chief  duty  as  razor  strops. 

"  There,  mother,  there  'tis ! "  cried  Fred,  as  he  drew  her 
into  the  forecastle.  And  looking  at  James,  he  asked,  "  Isn't 
it  mine  ?  " 

"  Of  course,"  replied  Jim,  smiling  ;  "  I  said  you  might 
have  it." 

"  It  is  very  beautiful,"'  said  Flora ;  "  but  I  am  afraid,  Fred, 
that  you  have  been  begging  for  it." 

"  I  didn't !  did  I  ?  "  cried  Fred,  emphatically. 

"  Now  tell  me,"  said  she,  gently,  "  did  you  not  tease  for  it  a 
little,  a  very  little  ?  " 


324  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

At  that  Fred  hung  his  head  to  one  side  an  instant ;  then 
taking  hold  of  the  sailor's  hand,  and  looking  up  in  his  face 
with  a  smile  which  was  dewy  with  emotion,  he  said,  "  I  didn't 
much,  did  I?" 

"  No,  not  so  much  as  I  wanted  you  to,  as  I  was  finishing  it 
for  you." 

"  There,  mother  !  isn't  it  mine,  now  ?  O,  how  I  wish  it  had 
some  sails ! " 

To  meet  that  wish,  Jack  said,  "  I'll  rig  him  a  schooner  next 
voyage."  g» 

This  was  the  sailor  who,  having  pulled  the  after  oar  in  the 
boat,  went  to  the  steward,  the  first  day  out,  —  it  being  the 
wish  of  the  men,  —  and  requested  him  not  to  send  any  of  the 
fresh  provisions  forward,  but  to  save  them  for  the  cabin,  ex 
cept  when  the  boy  ate  in  the  forecastle,  and  then  some  one 
would  come  for  his  mess. 

"  You  are  very  kind,"  said  Flora,  "  but  I  am  afraid  that 
Fred  will  trouble  you,  for  he  is  here  all  the  day ;  or  at  least  I 
do  not  see  any  thing  of  him,  only  for  a  minute  at  a  time,  ex 
cept  at  night." 

"  We  want  him  here,"  Jack  answered.  "  It  comes  near  to 
making  men  of  us,  when  we  see  a  child  who  takes  a  liking  to 
our  ways  and  leans  on  our  hearts ;  and,  if  you  can  let  us 
have  him,  we'll  adopt  him,  as  the  soldiers  of  Boney  did  the 
child  of  the  regiment,  calling  him  the  child  of  the  Muse  — 
then  we'll  give  our  last  dollar  to  school  and  clothe  him." 

By  that  time  the  tears  were  streaming  down  Flora's  cheeks  ; 
when  Jim,  seeing  them,  said,  "  Jack,  what  do  you  want  to  talk 
about  taking  away  a  child  from  a  mother  for  ?  " 

"  I  didn't  mean  any  hurt !  We'd  be  tender  with  him.  But, 
if  we  can't  have  him,  she  must  let  us  pay  for  his  clothes  and 
schooling,  and  send  us  word  by  the  captain  how  he  gets  along. 
And  on  the  stormy  days,  when  she  thinks  of  the  sea,  tell  him 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  325 

how  we  loved  him  ;  and  let  him  come  on  board  sometimes,  so 
we  can  have  a  look  at  him.  Then  I  wont  be  spending  all  my 
wages  for  rum  and  tobacco,  to  end  in  some  bloody  scrape : 
and  I  speak  for  every  sailor  here,  if  it  was  heart's  blood  she 
needed  as  well  as  money." 

Under  that  Flora  sank  down  on  a  chest,  and,  with  her  face 
buried  in  her  handkerchief,  was  sobbing  aloud. 

More  tender  than  women  to  a  woman's  tears,  the  sailors  sat 
distressed  but  silent,  and  half  doubted  their  own  nobleness  ; 
when  Fred,  moving  two  or  three  steps  towards  Jack,  said, 
rather  defiantly,  "  What  you  been  making  my  mother  cry  for  ?  " 

This  misapprehension  of  her  champion  roused  Flora ;  and, 
starting  up  with  recovered  strength,  she  said,  "  I  know  that 
you  helped  to  save  me  and  my  child ;  and,  in  that  armed  and 
threatening  night,  I  saw  that  you  all  were  ready  to  die  for  me. 
Then  I  felt  your  heroism  to  be  so  lofty  that  I  dared  not  trust 
myself  to  speak  of  it ;  while  now  you  have  risen  so  much 
higher,  that  neither  time  nor  the  grave  can  efface  the  memory 
of  your  kindness.  I  should  think  myself  colder  than  the 
clods  if  I  did  not  accept  something  of  your  proffered  assist 
ance  ;  yet  I  want  time  and  hours  of  composure  before  I  can 
decide  how  much  ;  for  which  I  have  no  words  ;  poor  even  in 
thanks,  poor  in  all  things  save  tears."  Here  she  again  melted, 
and  gave  free  way  to  feeling;  but,  in  a  few  moments,  she 
stifled  down  her  emotion  ;  when,  taking  her  child  by  the  hand, 
she  said,  "  We  will  go  now." 

Fred  drew  back,  however,  saying,  "  No,  mother ;  I  want  to 
stay  and  see  my  ship  and  eat  my  supper !  Now  do  let  me, 
mother ;  for  they  want  me  to,  and  I  want  to,  dreffully  ! " 

Flora  smiled  on  the  listening  group,  as  she  released  Fred's 
hand  and  turned  to  go ;  when  they  said,  "  God  bless  you  ! " 
and  never  did  angel  bear  a  nobler  or  a  sincerer  prayer  up  the 
bending  heavens. 

28 


326  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 


CHAPTER   XXXIII. 

She  comes  majestic  with  her  swelling  sails, 
The  gallant  bark ;  along  her  watery  way 
Homeward  she  drives  before  the  favoring  gales ; 
Now  flirting  at  their  length  the  streamers  play, 
And  now  they  ripple  with  the  ruffling  breeze. 

SOUTHEY. 

FLORA  awoke  early  on  the  following  morning,  although  she 
arose  late ;  for  her  mind  was  filled  with  thoughts  that  charmed 
like  dreams,  yet  were  real  as  life,  and  wielded  a  power  which 
held  her  long  in  the  circle  of  their  spell. 

When,  at  length,  she  ascended  to  the  deck,  the  sun  was  lord 
of  the  scene  ;  while  the  clouds  of  the  broken  storm  were  torn 
and  flying  like  rent  canvas  on  the  breeze. 

The  wind,  still  strong,  had  veered  to  the  westward ;  and, 
having  loosed  the  courses  and  boarded  the  tacks,  the  men  were 
on  the  yards  shaking  the  reefs  out  of  the  topsails,  and,  while 
doing  the  duty,  were  talking  and  laughing  in  a  cheerful  and 
unwonted  way.  Mr.  Jones  was  speaking  freely,  and  even 
ventured  a  joke  with  the  second. mate;  while  the  captain 
seemed  to  have  stooped  down  from  his  quarter  deck  to  be  fa 
miliar  with  all ;  and  seeing  Flora  emerge  from  the  cabin,  he 
greeted  her  with  the  phrase  of  the  hour,  but  more  heartily 
than  usual ;  when,  taking  her  hand,  he  shook  it  cordially,  say 
ing,  "  You  keep  your  room  late  on  such  a  morning." 

"  It  is,  indeed,  a  very  fresh  and  charming  morning ;  although, 
to  me,  it  is  not  more  so  than  many  that  we  have  had  on  the 
Muse ;  and  yet  there  may  be  something  connected  with  it 
which  I  do  not  see  or  perceive,  for  I  observe  that  every  one 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  827 

appears  exhilarated.  You  ought  to  have  called  me,  if  there 
was  any  thing  more  strange  or  beautiful  than  has  been  dis 
played  to  my  view,  so  that  I  might  have  arisen  to  watch  and 
enjoy  it  with  you." 

"  O,  you  have  not  lost  any  thing  worth  sighing  for  ;  it  will 
be  just  as  good  news  to  you  now  as  it  would  have  been  two 
hours  ago,  and  you  will  not  have  so  long  to  wait.  We're  ex 
pecting  to  give  our  sails  a  port  furl  to-night ;  we're  drawing 
near  the  end  of  the  voyage,  so  that  the  hills  will  soon  rise  up 
from  the  sea  to  welcome  us." 

"  I  like  to  rejoice  with  those  who  rejoice,"  Flora  replied, 
after  a  pause  ;  "  yet  I  have  found  hearts  here  that,  being  more 
gentle  and  warm  than  the  summer  air,  have  given  me  a  place 
of  rest  and  refuge  which  falls  to  few,  even  of  the  most  favored, 
and  one  that  awakes  no  wish  for  change." 

"  That  is  singular  !  as,  I  have  no  doubt,  much  of  the  cheer 
fulness  of  the  men  arises  from  the  opinion  that  you  must  have 
been  lonely  and  uncomfortable  here  ;  while  now  they  imagine 
a  very  agreeable  relief  to  be  nigh  at  hand  for  you." 

"  How  strangely  we  are  misunderstood  !  Do  you  think 
there  is  a  face  here  that  I  can  ever  forget ;  and  the  words 
which  I  have  heard,  can  they  die  ?  No  ;  the  ship  herself  is  a 
holy  shrine,  and  sanctified  in  my  heart  -as  no  altar  can  be. 
There  is  not  a  thing  on  all  her  deck  that  is  not  burned  into  my 
memory,  and  I  shall  feel  her  cradling  motions  all  the  days  of 
my  life." 

"Neither  can  we  forget!  Yet  it  is  near  the  middle  of 
June  ;  the  time  when  the  green  earth  is  in  its  glory,  and  in 
vites  us  to  eat  of  its  first  fruits  —  while  the  ocean,  after  all,  is 
but  a  desert,  and  the  sailor  a  homeless  wanderer  on  its  waste 
of  waters.  Even  those  who  think  that  they  love  the  sea  are 
filled  with  fonder  emotions  when  their  native  land  looms  above 
it ;  and  you  must  not  be  sorrowful  while  our  gladness  is  for 


328  THE    MUSTEB,    OR 

you ;  as  there  is  not  one  of  us  but  will  lay  bare  a  strong  arm 
to  make  your  path  easy  and  your  burden  light." 

"  It  is  that  which,  most  of  all,  oppresses  me ;  as  I  know  not 
how  to  refuse,  while  I  feel  that  I  can  never  repay.  Even 
the  sailors  came  near  to  breaking  my  heart  last  night  with 
their  generous  words  —  words  which  I  can  neither  forget  nor 
repeat." 

On  this,  as  the  tears  were  starting  down  her  cheeks,  Elery 
said,  "  You  have  no  need  to  repeat  them,  as  I  know  their  sub 
stance  now ;  for  Jack  came  to  me,  after  you  had  retired,  and 
gave  an  account  of  your  visit  to  their  quarters  in  his  own 
graphic  manner.  He  said,  '  The  lady  came  forward  with  the 
boy  this  afternoon  to  see  the  ship  which  Jim  had  given  him ; 
and  while  she  was  there  I  thought  it  my  duty  to  speak  her,  see 
ing  that  none  of  the  officers  were  present,  which  I  did  as  tender 
as  I  could ;  for,  you  see,  we  liked  the  boy,  and  she,  you  know, 
we  wouldn't  mind  dying  for.  Yet,  somehow  or  other,  my 
words  struck  her  like  a  squall ;  when  I  tried  to  take  'em  back, 
and  that  knocked  her  on  her  beam  ends  ;  but  the  boy  showed 
fight,  and  she  righted.  Then,  after  a  minute  or  so,  the  clouds 
appeared  to  break  and  roll  off,  and  she  smiled  on  us  quite  sun- 
like.'  There  he  paused,  but  soon  added,  '  I  believe  that's  all, 
though  I  feel  as  if  there  was  a  good  deal  more  of  it ;  but  I 
only  come  to  speak  about  the  way  it  was  done ;  so  I  can  ask 
you  to  explain  it,  and  let  her  know  we  didn't  mean  any  hurt.' 

"  This  seeming  to  be  the  close  of  his  description  and  apol 
ogy,  —  for  he  was  turning  away,  —  I  told  him  that  I  would  take 
care  that  there  was  no  misunderstanding ;  when  he  finished 
by  saying,  '  There's  one  thing,  that  I  a'most  forgot,  which  we 
want  you  to  navigate  for  us,  if  you'll  take  the  con  of  it. 
We've  all  voted  to  give  what  wages  may  be  due  us  at  the  end 
of  the  voyage  to  her ;  and  we'd  like  to  have  you  draw  the 
money  from  the  agent  and  pay  it  over." 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  329 

"  Truly,  I  hope  I  am  incapable  of  that ;  what,  take  all 
and  leave  them  destitute  —  what  will  they  do  ?  "  exclaimed 
Flora.  •; 

"  O,  they'll  ship  and  go  to  sea  again  in  a  few  days,  I  sup 
pose." 

"  Do  you  think  that  I  can  be  thus  instrumental  in  driving 
them  forth  to  wander  on  the  desert,  away  from  that  green 
earth  of  which  you  have  so  feelingly  spoken  ?  No ;  in  so 
doing  I  should  feel  as  though  I  had  robbed  my  protectors  and 
benefactors." 

"  But  would  you  slight  their  gift  ?  I  think  that  might  be 
their  interpretation  of  a  refusal.  You  have  had  an  opportu 
nity  to  see  something  of  the  sailor's  heart  and  hand,  I  know ; 
yet  you  have  not  learned  how  lightly  he  values  money ;  and 
let  me  say  that  I  believe  they  take  more  pleasure  in  laying 
their  earnings  at  your  feet,  in  this  way,  than  in  all  which  they 
have  scattered  from  many  a  long  cruise.  So  you  must  not 
refuse  a  part  of  the  offer  of  my  men ;  and  it  may  be  both  un 
wise  and  unkind  to  decline  any  of  it,  for  I  think  that  they 
consider  the  money  so  appropriated  that  they  will  never  ac 
cept  a  dollar  of  it  for  their  own  use,  whatever  may  become  of 
it.  However,  I  can  talk  the  matter  over  with  Jack,  and  learn 
what  his  notions  are." 

"I  wish  you  would  ;  as  I  feel  that  it  will  be  ungrateful  not 
to  receive  some  portion  of  it,  and  cruel  to  take  all ;  so  do  try 
to  make  them  see  how  improvident  they  are."  And,  listen 
ing  a  moment,  she  added,  "  That  is  Fred's  voice  —  where  is 
he  ?  for  I  believe  that  he  is  calling  me." 

"I  think  he's  in  the  forecas'le  —  the  sound  seems  to  come 
from  thence." 

As  the  boy  was  nowhere  in  sight  on  deck,  Flora  walked 
forward,  when  again  the  word  "  Mother ! "  came  tinkling  on 
her  ear ;  and,  glancing  up,  she  saw  him  looking  down  and 
28* 


330  THE    MUSTEE,     OR 

laughing  through  the  netting  of  the  foretop ;  upon  which  she 
inquired,  "  How  came  you  up  there,  my  child  ?  " 

"  Mr.  James  bring  me  up ;  we  be  looking  for  land." 

"  Have  you  found  it  ?  " 

«  Yes,  there  it  be  !     Land,  ho  !  Land,  ho  ! " 

"  Where  away  ?  "  called  the  captain,  who  had  now  joined 
Flora. 

"  Two  points  on  the  larboard  bow,"  replied  Fred,  after  a 
moment. 

The  sailors,  then  making  it  out  from  the  deck,  laughed  and 
cried,  "  Land,  ho !  Land,  ho ! " 

Not  long  after  they  raised  Sandy  Hook ;  and  then  a  pilot 
boat,  fair  as  some  snowy  albatross  of  the  "  Stormy  Cape,"  came 
winging  down.  But  the  pilots,  knowing  the  ship  and  the  cus 
tom  of  her  captain,  only  inquired  after  health,  and  answered 
the  question  of  news,  as  their  beautiful  craft  flew  across  the 
Muse's  quarter ;  when,  trimming  their  sheets  aft,  they  stood 
to  the  southward,  and  soon  seemed  no  more  than  a  wreath  of 
foam  on  the  wave. 

As  the  ship  drew  on,  under  a  press  of  canvas,  the  hills  ap 
peared  to  be  advancing  to  the  very  verge  of  the  ocean,  where, 
at  length,  they  stood  out  bold  with  their  feet  in  the  foam. 
The  gulls  were  sailing  slowly  along,  and  looking  into  the  sea 
as  if  searching  for  something  which  they  had  dropped,  or 
swooping  down  to  recover  it.  Occasionally  a  land  bird  shot 
by  on  rapid  pinion,  as  though,  dwelling  among  the  people,  he 
had  caught  their  unrest ;  like  the  fishermen  whom  they  were 
passing,  whose  arms  were  in  constant  motion,  although  no  fish 
nibbled  the  bait.  The  scene  was  getting  more  and  more  ani 
mated  every  moment.  They  were  entering  into  the  midst  of 
a  fleet,  overhauling  ships,  brigs,  and  schooners  ;  some  natu 
rally  dull,  while  others,  being  commanded  by  old  sea-dogs  who 
shy,  and  fly  from  land,  were  under  short  sail ;  for  having 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  331 

taken  it  in  at  twelve  o'clock  the  night  before,  they  had  shaken 
out  nothing  after.  So  they  went  sagging  up  the  passage 
towards,  the  port,  appearing  as  though  they  had  blown  away 
their  canvas,  or  sprung  half  of  their  spars. 

Yet  further  on,  yachts,  steamers,  and  sailboats  were  com 
ing  in  sight  and  cleaving  the  swift  tide  in  every  direction. 
And  rising  on  either  hand  were  green  slopes  rich  in  waving 
grass  and  grain,  with  shadowy  trees,  and  cattle  upon  a  thou 
sand  hills  ;  while  the  signs  of  industry  were  every  where 
around.  Even  down  to  the  very  brink  of  the  brine  men  were 
busily  gathering  the  storm-torn  tresses  of  the  deep. 

At  last  the  port  opened,  and  lo !  under  way,  riding  at  their 
anchors  or  lying  at  the  piers,  there  were  a  thousand  ships  dis 
playing  the  flags  of  the  nations  —  not  in  sullen  folds  and  with 
whispers  of  defiance,  but  the  true  emblems  of  Peace,  the  proud 
tiara  of  all-conquering  Commerce,  wide  waving  over  a  diver 
sified  landscape,  and  crowning  a  varied  beauty  which  no  city 
by  the  sea  surpasses. 

Having  been  boarded  by  the  customary  officers  as  she  came 
up,  and  duly  permitted  to  go  on,  the  Muse  reached  the  pier, 
and  made  all  fast,  just  as  the  sun's  last  beams  were  soaring 
from  the  spires  of  the  city. 

On  landing  Elery  went  immediately  up  town,  to  make 
some  necessary  purchases,  as  well  as  to  notify  the  agent  of  his 
arrival ;  and,  returning  in  the  course  of  two  hours,  he  de 
scended  to  the  cabin  to  find  Flora-  in  female  costume,  which 
was  clean  at  least,  and  if  you  did  not  scrutinize  too  closely, 
quite  passable. 

Francis  thought  so,  as  he  had  done  his  best  to  repair  it ; 
and,  when  he  saw  her  arrayed,  he  was  surprised  at  his  own 
success,  so  skilfully  had  she  overfolded  every  imperfection. 

"  Well,"  said  the  captain,  smiling,  "  are  you  ready  to  go 
ashore  ?  " 


332  THE    MUSTEE,  OB 

"  I  am  content  to  remain  here  or  go  any  where  you  say  ; 
believing,  as  I  do,  that  you  will  take  the  wisest  course." 

"Then  I  determine  that  we  ride  out  to  the  cottage  this 
evening ;  and  you  can  leave  on  short  notice,  as  it  will  not  take 
you  long  to  pack  your  trunks." 

"  That  is  very  true ;  yet  I  am  loaded  with  obligations  which 
so  weigh  upon  me  that  I  find  them  difficult  to  .carry." 

"  You  are  sad,"  said  the  sailor,  "  while  my  spirits  are  of  the 
brightest." 

Upon  this  Flora  rose  up,  and  said,  "  Let  us  go." 

And  the  captain,  seeing  the  tears  starting  from  her  eyes, 
drew  near  her,  and  whispered,  "  Do  not  weep." 

But  Flora,  looking  up  in  his  face,  said,  softly,  "  May  I  not 
give  tears,  who  have  nothing  else  to  give  ?  " 

"  To  those  who  can  appreciate  their  value,"  Elery  tenderly 
replied,  "  they  are  gems  which  so  pay  and  overpay,  that  all 
other  tribute  seems  poor  beside  them.  I  see  that  you  cannot 
away  with  the  thought  of  your  indebtedness  to  us ;  but  have 
you  ever  considered  how  much  more  blessed  it  is  to  give  than 
to  receive  ?  You  must  permit  us  to  enjoy  that  pleasure 
now,  and  the  time  may  come  when  you  can  more  than  re 
pay  it." 

"  That  is  a  fancy,  a  dream,  a  fond  suggestion,"  said  she, 
rousing,  "  which  I  will  not  look  at  too  closely  now,  but  leave 
it  to  shine,  though  it  be  only  the  mirage  of  a  star  in  the  dim 
heaven  of  hope.  It  is  cheerful  to  think,  to  believe  so  ;  and  I 
dare  not  frown  away  so  welcome  a  consoler.  Let  us  go  ;  but 
where  is  Fred  ?  " 

"  We  shall  find  him  with  the  men." 

Thereupon  they  ascended  to  the  deck ;  but  it  was  all  silent, 
not  a  sailor  to  be  seen,  as  Francis  had  told  them  that  the 
lady  was  about  to  leave.  So  Flora  called,  "  Fred !  "  when  he 
came  running  from  forward ;  but  he  came  alone.  . 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  333 

"Where  are  all  your  shipmates,  my  boy?"  inquired  the 
captain. 

"  They  be  away  out  there,"  Fred  replied,  pointing  towards 
the  forecastle.  "  Mr.  James,  Mr.  Jack,  and  all  on  'em." 

On  this,  Flora,  looking  up  to  the  captain,  said,  "  I  must  see 
them  a  moment  before  I  go." 

"I'll  speak  to  them."  And  going  to  their  quarters  he 
looked  in  and  said,  "  Come,  boys,  the  lady  wishes  to  say  good 
by  to  you  before  she  leaves  the  ship." 

After  a  moment  one  of  them  replied,  "  You  go,  Jim ;  you 
and  Jack ;  we  can't  —  we  don't  know  what  to  say." 

"  But  she  wants  you  all  to  come ;  and  will  you  refuse  a 
woman  her  parting  wish  ?  Come,  heave  ahead  !" 

So  out  they  came,  —  for  the  captain's  last  words  sounded  like 
an  order,  —  and  followed  him  to  the  companion-way,  where 
Flora  and  her  child  were  standing. 

"  Do  you  think,"  said  Flora,  as  they  gathered  around  her, 
"  knowing,  as  I  do,  that  many  of  you  I  may  never  see  again, 
that  I  could  leave  the  Muse  without  taking  your  kind  hands 
and  saying  farewell  ?  you  who  have  done  so  much,  O,  how 
much !  for  me  and  my  child.  I  was  stripped  of  all  which 
makes  life  desirable,  and  so  driven  to  despair  that  God  alone 
can  know  how  low  and  wretched  I  was  ;  from  which  con 
dition  you  saved  me,  to  strow  my  path  with  peace  and 
plenty.  O  my  friends,  I  feel  the  greatness  of  your  ser 
vice,  and  I  know  the  set  phrases  of  thanks ;  yet  I  can 
not  say  them,  as  I  see  that  your  generous  natures  shrink 
from  such  words  —  only  this,  that  I  can  never,  never  for 
get  you." 

Pausing  a  moment  amid  her  emotions,  she  gave  her  hand 
to  each  in  turn,  and,  speaking  kind  things  to  all,  separated, 
saying,  "  God  bless  you." 

Jack,  from  diffidence  or  accident,  was  so  situated  that  he 


334  THE     MUSTEK,      OR 

was  the  last  to  receive  her  hand ;  and,  while  it  rested  in  his, 
he  said,  "  Mine  is  a  hard  hand,  but  it  is  strong ;  and  it  will 
work  for  you,  or  fight  for  you,  so  long  as  its  strength  lasts ; 
and  so  says  every  man  of  the  ship's  crew." 


LOVE     AND    LIBERTY.  335 


CHAPTER    XXXIY. 

His  feeling  wordes  her  feeble  sense  much  pleased, 
And  softly  sunk  into  her  molten  heart : 
Heart  that  is  inly  hurt  is  greatly  eased 
With  hope  of  thing  that  may  allay  her  smart ; 
For  pleasing  wordes  are  like  to  magick  art, 
That  doth  the  charmed  snake  in  slumber  lay. 

SPENSEB. 

THE  elegant,  fashionable,  and  apparently  fascinating  atmos 
phere  into  which  Aurelia,  pressed  by  circumstances  or  blinded 
by  desire,  had  chosen  to  enter,  as  the  one  wherein  she  could 
most  fairly  and  fully  unfold,  was  striking,  chill  or  stormy, 
through  her  heart,  and  doing  its  legitimate  work  upon  her 
nature. 

Had  Aurelia  expected  too  much  ?  If  by  temperament  she 
was  ardent  and  exacting,  she  was  also  capable  of  the  deepest 
tenderness  and  the  most  single  devotion  ;  while  Featherstone, 
as  his  gloss  wore  quickly  away,  showed  himself  coarse,  ca 
pricious,  indifferent,  and  at  length  overbearing  and  tyran 
nical. 

With  a  lively  faith  in  the  design  of  nature  to  throw  a  never- 
fading  splendor  along  the  path  of  love,  Aurelia  could  not 
avoid  the  conclusion  that  she  had  missed  the  way ;  and  that 
too,  irretrievably !  She  did  not  dream  that  she  herself  was 
partly  in  the  wrong ;  she  thought  only  how  fatally  she  had 
been  deluded.  Though  deeply  moved,  she  yet  had  no  sorrow 
for  her  own  sin,  but  was  nursing  a  rebellious  spirit ;  so  that 
she  soon  came  to  look  upon  the  joy  of  others  with  something 
of  displeasure,  during  the  height  of  which  there  flashed  up  full 


836  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

many  a  keen  or  scornful  thought  that  she  did  not  restrain, 
and  which  showed  but  too  clearly  the  bitterness  of  her  own 
disappointment. 

And,  in  truth,  she  had  some  cause,  although  Featherstone 
had  only  taken  the  common  course  of  young  men  of  wealth 
and  leisure,  such  as  keeping  a  fast  horse,  and  having  "  fast " 
friends,  and  going  abroad  for  pleasure,  and  coming  home  to 
sleep  ;  which  last,  however,  he  did  with  great  quietness  when 
not  questioned  as  to  the  where,  and  why,  &c.  If  Aurelia 
ventured  to  make  such  inquiries  he  thought  it  an  invasion  of 
his  prerogative,  and  answered  accordingly,  —  at  such  times, 
reflecting  more  on  what  he  had  done  for  her  than  of  that 
which  he  had  neglected  to  do ;  and  this  was  so  natural  to 
him  that  he  always  believed  himself  to  be  the  aggrieved 
person. 

When  there  is  bitterness  in  the  heart,  opportunities  are  not 
wanting  to  vent  it ;  so  that,  if  Featherstone  had  even  a  whist 
party  at  his  residence,  which  often  happened,  he  was  likely  to 
be  snubbed  soon  after  it  was  over,  on  account  of  the  noise  of 
the  game,  or  rated  in  the  morning  for  the  accidental  injury 
and  disorder  of  the  room.  But  not  being  one  of  those  who 
take  a  check  of  that  kind  quietly,  although  aware  that  he  had 
gone  wrong,  he  would  protest ;  on  which  proceeding,  after 
the  first  burst,  Aurelia  would  restrain  herself  to  silence ;  yet 
that  was  so  unsatisfactory  that  he  would  try  to  spur  her  on, 
but  with  so  little  success  that  she  usually  turned  from  his 
fetid  breath  with  more  contempt  in  her  motion,  or  looked  at 
the  wreck  and  soil  with  more  pointed  sneers. 

But  what  need  to  say  more  than  that  love  was  not  there  ? 
Unlike  in  taste,  and  dissimilar  in  aspiration,  they  had  been 
lured  together  by  false  lights,  which  soon  died  down,  to  be 
kindled  no  more.  He,  indeed,  cared  little,  for  he  had  made 
other  arrangements  ;  but  she  felt  the  gathering  darkness  and 


LOVE     AND    LIBERTY.  337 

the  deepening  desolation,  and  turned  away  into  whatever  of 
fashion  would  amuse  or  excite,  only  to  find  weariness  and 
disgust  at  last. 

Within  such  mire  there  is  no  wholesome  rest,  and  yet  out 
from  it  there  is  no  clean  path,  except  for  the  winged  spirit. 
Ah  !  it  is  then  that  we  turn  to  other  days  to  recall  early  hopes, 
and,  it  may  be,  an  early  lover,  with  all  his  kind  looks  and 
tender  ways,  and  place  him  beside  the  skeleton  to  which  we 
are  chained.  That  power  of  contrast  will  live  with  memory ! 
Through  her  silent  halls  stalk  the  spectres  of  the  wronged,  to 
be  our  secret  companions,  however  defiant  or  sorrowful  their 
reception. 

It  was  on  a  day  after  one  of  those  social  meetings  —  which 
had  been  more  than  hilarious,  with  a  corresponding  contempt 
and  consequent  imperiousness  —  that  Mrs.  Featherstone  had 
engaged  to  take  tea  with  Mrs.  Summers.  And  although, 
when  the  hour  for  the  visit  arrived,  she  went  forth  from  her 
door  with  a  haughty  step,  she  yet  approached  the  plain  house 
of  the  widow  in  a  pensive  mood  and  with  a  quickening 
pulse. 

Mrs.  Summers,  having  provided  every  thing  which  she 
faflcied  would  please  her  guest,  was  on  the  watch  for  her 
coming,  and  received  her  with  particular  and  unremitted  at 
tentions,  and  did  not  leave  her  except  when  the  hour  for  tea 
had  nearly  arrived ;  then  she  made  excuse  and  went  out. 

Yet  Aurelia  was  not  long  alone,  for  in  a  few  moments  the 
door  opened,  and  Park  entered.  He,  however,  was  not  to  be 
taken  by  surprise,  but  calmly  meeting,  as  though  he  had  ex 
pected  to  see  her,  he  greeted  her  politely,  and,  taking  a  seat, 
appeared  as  if  in  the  presence  of  a  client  —  no  more  ;  while 
he  seemed  to  be  waiting  for  the  statement  of  her  case. 

Seeing  this,  and  fully  interpreting  its  meaning,  Aurelia  in 
quired,  "  Have  you  become  so  absorbed  in  your  profession  that 
29 


338  THE     MUSTEK,     OR 

you  cannot  find  an  evening,  or  even  an  hour,  for  society,  or  to 
meet  the  claims  of  friendship  ?  " 

"  Men  who  follow  my  profession  closely,"  replied  Park, 
"can  see  little  of  society,  and  less  of  friends.  They  deal 
chiefly  with  enmity,  and  draw  most  of  their  support  from  it ; 
indeed,  it  gives  more  freely  than  charity,  and  will  go  farther 
than  the  heart  of  kindness  !  If  you  wish  to  have  some  one 
search  your  ways  and  study  your  footprints,  so  that  he  may 
know  them  among  a  thousand  on  the  remotest  strand,  and 
there,  penetrating  through  all  guards  to  your  presence,  draw 
your  curtain,  and  peer  in  on  your  sleep,  hope  it  not  of  Love ; 
Hate  alone  can  do  it." 

"  It  is  painful  to  hear  such  truth,  and  from  you.  How  dif 
ferent  from  what  you  were  do  you  appear  !  I  cannot  believe 
that  there  has  been  such  change  in  you." 

"  Have  you  not  changed  ?  " 

"  I  hope  that  it  is  not  in  my  nature  to  forget  or  turn  coldly 
away  from  a  friend  —  and  especially  the  one  whom  I  seemed 
to  esteem  the  most." 

"  Am  I  to  infer  that  you  have  the  same  feeling  towards  me 
now  as  when  we  used  to  walk  together  ?  " 

Aurelia  sat  half  reclining,  her  arm  resting  on  the  scroll  of 
the  sofa,  while  her  fingers  were  nervously  playing  with  the  cross 
of  the  mustee.  On  this  question  her  head  drooped,  her  eyes 
were  cast  down  so  as  to  be  almost  veiled  by  their  long  lashes, 
and  a  tremor  flitted  over  her  features,  when  her  hand  wan 
dered  across  her  brow  to  shade  it  more  completely,  but  it  could 
not  hide  her  tears. 

Park  saw,  and  said,  "  I  regret  that  I  have  an  engagement 
this  evening ;  yet  the  business  shall  not  detain  me  after  nine 
o'clock.  If  you  can  remain  here  until  then,  I  hope  you  will, 
as  I  have  a  desire  to  talk  with  you." 

"  I  shall  wait,"  she  falteringly  replied,  after  a  moment,  with 
out  raising  her  eyes. 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  339 

There  was  no  further  conversation  ;  and  in  a  few  moments, 
in  which  Aurelia  recovered  her  composure,  the  tea  bell  sum 
moned,  when  they  arose  and  met  the  widow  at  the  dining- 
room  door.  She  manifested  surprise  on  finding  Park  with  her 
visitor,  and  said,  "If  I  had  dreamed  that  old  friends  were 
together  I  would  not  have  called  you  so  soon  ; "  (she  had 
waited  ten  minutes  past  the  usual  time  ;)  "  but  I  thought  that 
Mrs.  Featherstone  was  quite  alone." 

Park  went  immediately  away,  on  rising  from  the  table,  and, 
returning  at  the  time  named,  he  entered  into  conversation  with 
his  accustomed  ease  where  there  were  only  two  or  three  per 
sons,  and  something  of  his  old  playfulness,  so  that  it  was  after 
ten  o'clock  when  Aurelia  arose  to  go  home. 

As  the  attentive  widow  daintily  touched  her  guest's  collar, 
seemingly  to  arrange  it,  she  said,  "  Shall  I  speak  to  John  ?  " 

But  at  that  moment  Aurelia  was  very  busy  with  her  bonnet ; 
and  Park,  turning  towards  the  hall,  drew  on  a  glove,  and 
taking  his  hat,  said,  "  It  is  growing  quite  warm,  and  is  begin 
ning  to  feel  like  summer." 

"  Yes,"  said  the  smiling  widow,  "  I  think  you  will  find  it  a 
warm  walk,  yet  a  very  pleasant  one,  I  have  no  doubt." 

"  Will  you  join  us  ?  "  Park  questioned,  rather  than  invited. 

"  I  should  like  to  have  you  do  so,"  said  Aurelia,  "  if  it  would 
give  you  any  pleasure." 

"  Not  this  evening,  I  thank  you,"  replied  Mrs.  Summers, 
looking  roguish  ;  "  but  at  some  other  time  I  should  be  de 
lighted." 

Passing  out,  they  turned  up  the  street,  when  Aurelia  ac 
cepted  Park's  arm  timidly,  yet  hopingly.  But,  as  he  con 
tinued  silent,  she  grew  fearful,  feeling  that  it  was  a  -pause  in 
which  to  gather  force  or  fix  determination,  so  that  she  was  not 
surprised  when  he  said,  "  In  the  few  moments  that  I  was  near 
you,  on  the  night  of  your  marriage,  my  heart  was  busy  with 


840  THE     MUSTEE,     OR 

scenes  like  this,  as  I  thought  that  the  curtain  was  falling  over 
them  which  only  sad  Memory  could  raise  again !  You,  at 
least,  were  voluntarily  entering  a  world  which  I  had  dreamed 
was  inaccessible  to  all  save  the  chosen  one." 

Aurelia  trembled,  but  replied,  "  I  hope  that  I  did  not  appear 
indifferent  to  you  ?  " 

"  On  that  point  I  have  no  complaint  to  make.  On  the  con 
trary,  I  hold  that  the  mysteries  and  the  music  of  the  heart  are 
for  Love's  ear  alone ;  not  only  in  the  sunny  moments  of  the 
bridal  days,  but  throughout  every  succeeding  hour.  I,  indeed, 
may  not  measure  the  feeling  of  others,  yet  I  desire  all  of  affec 
tion,  of  devotion  even,  that  one  can  give,  to  appease  my  heart, 
and  a  true  wife  can  ask  no  less  !  " 

Aurelia  clung  to  his  arm  in  silence,  and  Park  knew  by  the 
quick  motions  of  her  bosom  that  she  was  weeping  over  the 
picture.  But,  continuing  his  limning,  he  said,  "  I  had  dreamed 
of  such  love  ;  and,  although  I  have  been  forced  to  doubt  its 
existence  at  times,  still,  in  the  depths  of  my  soul,  I  believe  in 
it,  and  still  dare  to  think  that,  at  some  time  in  life,  I  shall 
meet  it.  It  may  never  come,  yet  the  fond  vision  shall  warm 
me,  and  the  hope  shall  keep  me  ;  for  I  know  that  God  is  just, 
and  therefore  that  no  longing  of  our  nature  is  doomed  to  con 
tinuous  disappointment,  but  rather  to  ineffable  fruition." 

"  Do  not,  O,  do  not,  talk  thus  ! "  she  faltered  imploringly. 

"  Have  I  uttered  auglit  than  what  were  once  the  hopes  of 
your  own  heart  ?  and  why  should  they  come  to  torture  you 
now,  unless  it  be  that  the  brightest  dream  which  life  can  enter 
tain  has  been  bartered  a*,vay,  or  thoughtlessly  cast  out,  to 
vanish  up  the  sky  a  forsaking  and  accusing  angel?" 

"  O,  do  not  you  turn  coldly  from  me,  in  the  hour  of  my 
need." 

"  If  I  can  help  you  in  any  way,  you  may  confide  in,  and 
still  command,  me." 


LOYE    AND    LIBERTY.  341 

«£i 

Silently  she  wept,  and  clung  to  him,  for  some  space ;  then 
came,  falteringly  and  low  spoken,  a  mournful  story,  as  if  of 
the  wiles  and  glittering  scales  of  a  serpent ;  and  then  the 
cold  coil  and  the  fangs ;  so  that  there,  where,  had  she  been 
true  to  herself,  she  might  have  received  the  rich  offering  of 
most  chivalrous  affection,  she  came  to  implore  assistance,  or 
move  that  pity  which  is  akin  to  love. 

"When  she  had  closed,  and  Park  intimated  that  he  saw 
nothing  in  her  statement,  sorrowful  as  it  was,  that  would  war 
rant  success  to  the  proceedings  towards  which  she  looked  for 
relief,  she  inquired,  "  Is  there  then  no  escape  from  all  this 
wretchedness  ?  " 

"  We  may  pity  and  deplore  your  situation,  but  the  law  has 
opened  no  path  by  which  we  can  penetrate  to  your  rescue. 
Your  husband  may  reel  into  your  presence ;  he  may  invite  the 
vile  into  your  house,  and  'make  night  hideous '  with  his  orgies  ; 
he  may  cut  you  to  the  heart  with  the  most  cruel  and  insolent 
words ;  but,  unless  you  can  show  the  scars  of  his  violent  hand, 
no  official  arm  can  come  to  your  aid." 

"  Then  would  to  God  that  he  might  strike  me,  even  though 
it  should  cripple  or  disfigure  me  for  life  !  But  is  there  no  law 
against  this  direst  counterfeit  ?  no  remedy  at  this  stage  of  the 
fell  disease  ?  " 

"  There  is  none  pointed  out,  except  it  be  the  gentlest  for 
bearance  or  the  sweetest  submission,"  replied  Park. 

"  If  it  be  so,  then  there  is  nothing  left  to  me  but  to  steel  my 
heart  against  all  feeling,  and,  meeting  taunt  with  taunt,  bring 
on  a  crisis  which  may  rend  my  chains.  And  0,  when  that 
hour  shall  come,  which  is  now  the  height  of  my  hope,  life  will 
stretch  out  a  desert  before  me  !  Even  you  shun,  and  scorn 
ready  to  forsake."  Here  she  was  interrupted  by  her  weeping ; 
yet,  with  an  effort,  she  resumed,  saying,  "  My  other  woes  burn 
29* 


342  THE    MUSTEE,     OR 

and  madden ;  but  this  prospect  is  full  of  tears ;  it  is  more  than 
I  can  bear." 

"  Did  you  not  voluntarily  raise  the  curtain  on  that  view  ?  " 

"  Might  not  your  indifference " 

But  here  her  voice  choked,  and  she  leaned  on  him,  so  that 
he  stooped  to  support  her,  (as  they  were  in  the  arch  of  the 
doorway,)  and  said,  with  deep  agitation,  "Aurelia,  can  any 
reproach  rest  upon  me,  in  your  mind,  in  connection  with  this 
woe  ?  Have  I  not  suffered  enough,  but  this  must  come  also  ? 
O,  there  was  a  time,  when,  if  I  could  have  seen  that  you  de 
sired 

'To  say  your  sorrows  in  this  bosom/ 

or  your  joys,  it  would  have  opened  like  a  city's  gates  to  the 
one  who  had  saved  it  from  desolation,  while  strewing  all  gar 
lands  beneath  your  feet !  but  that  time  has  gone  down  the  un- 
returning  tide." 

"  0,"  said  she,  still  leaning  upon  him,  "  there  was  a  time 
when  I  would  have  given  my  life  for  one  hour  of  the  bliss  of 
those  words ! " 

On  this,  Park  gently  disengaged  himself,  and  said,  "  Did  I 
turn  away  from  you  while  there  was  hope  ?  If,  of  late,  I 
have  avoided  your  presence,  it  was  that  I  might  go  aside  to 
meet  my  sorrow  in  secret  places  —  for  I  had  shrined  you  in 
my  inmost  heart;  and  wheft  you  were  so  suddenly  and  so 
astonishingly  torn  away,  think  you  that  I  did  not  grieve  and 
mourn  over  the  slain  love  ?  O  Aurelia !  how  have  you 
wronged  both  yourself  and  me !  wronged,  too,  in  a  way  in 
which  no  reparation  may  come ;  so  that  all  words  of  tender 
ness  between  us  can  now  be  only  weakness  and  folly.  Let  us, 
then,  here  close  the  theme,  as  if  it  were  a  sepulchre  —  even 
though  I  bury  within  its  damp,  cold  gloom  the  sweetest  and 
the  saddest  of  all  mortal  memories." 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  343 

Aurelia  was  so  shaken  with  this  that  Park  bent  tenderly 
over,  and  was  about  to  put  his  arm  around  her,  when,  startled 
by  Featherstone's  ascending  the  steps,  he  turned  away  unrec 
ognized  ;  while  the  wife  received  the  husband  with  the  com 
posure  and  bearing,  of  Juno  the  protectress. 


344  THE     MUSTEE,     OB 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 


The  trees  were  interwoven  wild, 
And  spread  their  boughs  enough  about 
To  keep  both  sheep  and  shepherd  out, 

But  not  a  happy  child. 

MKS.  DROWNING. 


IN  the  soft  summer  time  a  Sabbath  in  a  country  town  like 
Greenville  has  peculiar  charms ;  the  long,  quiet  hours  of  the 
morning  seem  to  be  filled  with  the  spirit  of  peace  ;  the  hum 
and  the  moan  of  labor  are  all  hushed  to  sleep  in  the  bosom  .of 
a  day  of  rest ;  and  the  sun  appears  to  rise  up  and  stoop  over 
the  village  with  all  that  fond,  ineffable  tenderness  which  the 
great  masters  of  the  pencil  have  given  to  "  Mary  Mother " 
while  she  gazes  on  her  wondrous  child.  And  behold  how 
still  the  leaves,  the  grass,  and  the  blossoms  lie,  while  they 
drink  the  dew  which  falls  every  night,  a  miracle  of  manna, 
for  their  sustenance !  How  grateful  the  odor,  as  if  the  air  was 
filled  with  the  ascending  souls  of  flowers  !  and  how  dear,  how 
emotional,  the  calls  of  the  trusting  birds  which  build  their 
homes,  and  tell  the  tale  of  their  loves,  beneath  the  shelter 
ing  windows  ! 

On  such  days,  when  all  outward  things  are  so  touched  with 
inimitable  beauty  as  to  woo  the  glance,  and  angels  have  so 
swung  their  censers  through  the  heavens  as  to  make  it  a  lux 
ury  to  breathe,  who  does  not  feel  that  Nature  is  our  mother, 
and  that  her  smile  will  unfold,  in  the  bosom  of  a  loyal  child, 
a  yearning  after  the  Divine  ? 

Flora,  having  arisen  early,  had  drunk  deeply  of  the  over 
flowing  fountains  of  the  morning  light,  to  be  sweetly  refreshed 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  345 

and  made  so  joyful,  by  its  influence,  that  her  emotions  and 
thoughts  were  praise  and  thanksgiving.  Yet,  arnid  this  de 
licious  musing,  the  duties  of  the  hour  had  been  so  heeded  and 
cared  for  that  the  table  was  set  with  plates  for  three,  while 
"  the  sober  berry's  juice  "  sent  an  inviting  odor  out  through 
the  doorway  and  beyond  the  vine-clad  portico. 

Hark  !  It  was  just  the  faintest  step,  and  the  gate  was  very 
carefully  opened  ;  yet  not  so  softly  but  that  a  quick  and  wait 
ing  ear  caught  the  scarce  perceptible  sound  ;  when  the  lis 
tener,  rising  up,  met  the  gentle  approacher  at  the  door, 
where,  with  smiles  and  friendly  words,  she  welcomed  him  be 
neath  the  portal. 

They  walked  in  together,  and,  as  the  captain  was  about  to 
take  a  seat,  Flora  said,  rather  archly,  "  You  ought  to  taste 
some  of  yon  cherries  fresh  from  the  trees  —  they  are  sweet 
est  in  the  morning."  But,  seeing  that  he  was  a  little  doubtful 
about  going,  she  continued,  "  Now  do  go,  if  only  to  please  me, 
and  you  shall  have  breakfast  in  a  few  minutes." 

Elery,  then  comprehending,  went  forth,  smiling,  into  the 
spacious  and  pleasant  enclosure.  There  he  found  Fred,  who, 
having  become  familiar  with  every  nook  and  corner,  came 
quickly  to  take  the  sailor's  extended  hand,  that  he  might  enact 
the  proud  showman  to  the  happy  owner. 

"  I'll  show  you  my  hens  —  I've  got  some  hens  !  they  be  all 
black,  with  white  caps  on  their  heads.  Where  did  they  come 
from  ?  " 

"How  should  I  know?" 

"  O,  you  know  —  my  mother  says  you  do ; "  and  the  sunny 
smile  that  flowed  and  rippled  over  his  bright  face,  as  he  looked 
up  to  Elery,  was  rich  in  remuneration. 

Having  shown  those,  he  took  the  sailor  to  see  a  bird's  nest. 
But,  as  the  bright  eye  of  the  bird  shone  over  its  rim,  they 
kindly  turned  away  to  visit  every  part  of  the  garden  where 


346  THE     MUSTEB,     OR 

nook,  or  thicket,  or  flower  had  struck  the  boy's  fancy.  Then 
he  pressed  him  to  eat  of  all  the  kinds  of  fruit,  —  whether  ripe 
or  green,  —  and  especially  each  large  and  beautiful  cherry 
which  hung  within  his  reach. 

Soon  Flora  walked  down  the  path,  and,  seeing  them,  she 
came  beneath  the  shadow  of  the  tree  to  receive  the  cherries, 
which  the  sailor  gathered,  as  though  it  were  her  natural  office. 
He,  also,  was  equally  pleased,  for  manly  strength  knows  no 
deeper  charm  than  to  wait  on  a  lovely  woman  who  accepts 
the  service  with  grace  and  kindness.  After  a  few  moments, 
however,  they  loitered,  talking,  into  the  cottage  and  to  break 
fast,  where  Fred  claimed  the  eggs  only  that  he  might  have 
the  pleasure  of  giving  them  away. 

Speaking  of  the  cherries  that  were  on  the  table,  Flora  said, 
"  These  are  not  so  excellent  as  those  I  intended  to  set  before 
you,  for,  seeing  that  there  were  larger  and  more  richly-colored 
ones  near  the  top  of  the  tree,  I  lifted  Fred  on  to  the  first  branch, 
telling  him  to  climb  up  and  throw  them  down  on  the  grass,  — 
and  you  know  that  he  can  hold  his  weight  any  where  with 
one  hand ;  besides,  you  said  that  I  must  encourage  him  to  climb, 
—  which  he  did,  while  I  continued  picking,  and  thought  no 
more  of  him  until  I  heard  him  cry  out,  '  Land,  ho ! '  as  loud  as 
he  could  shout.  Whereupon,  I  ordered  him  down  very  quick 
ly,  fearing  that  he  would  raise  the  neighborhood.  So  you 
have  not  been  treated  to  the  choicest  this  morning,  because 
Fred  was  a  naughty  boy." 

On  this  the  child  looked  a  little  embarrassed,  and  said,  "  Mr. 
James  told  me  to  say  so." 

"  Well,  he  told  you  right,  Fred ;  and  you  may  say  it,  when 
you  are  on  board  ship,  every  time  that  you  can  see  it,"  re 
plied  the  sailor. 

"  I  wish  I  was  there  now,  if  I  can't  speak  out  loud  here ! " 
But  meeting  the  serious  glance  of  his  mother,  he  slid  down 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  347 

from  his  chair,  and,  coming  round,  climbed  into  her  lap  to  draw 
her  ear  down  to  his  lips  and  whisper,  "  I  want  you  to  go  too, 
mother." 

"  What ! "  cried  Flora,  kissing  him,  "leave  this  beautiful  place, 
where  my  dear  child  has  every  thing  that  a  mother  can  wish  ?  " 

"  I  wish  I  had  my  ship,"  Fred  uttered,  ruefully. 

"  You  shall  have  her  this  evening,"  said  the  sailor. 

"  May  I  ?     O,  good ! "  cried  he,  now  full  of  expectation. 

So  glided  the  hour,  like  some  fair,  flowing  stream  just  rip 
pling  to  a  breath  of  air ;  thus  Flora  was  agitated  as  she  con 
trasted  the  past  and  the  present. 

Before  they  separated  from  the  table  the  bells  in  all  the 
church  towers  rang  out  their  sonorous  song  of  good  will  to 
men  —  a  type  and  far-off  echo  of  the  eternal  harmony !  So, 
indeed,  it  seemed  to  them  as  it  arose  on  the  free  air,  and 
chimed  around  their  contented  nook  ;  while  to  all  it  was  a 
peaceful  voice,  sounding  along  the  hushed  aisles  of  the  Sabbath, 
and  bearing  joy  to  hearts  which  were  true  to  themselves,  as 
well  as  a  summons  to  the  indifferent,  to  join  in  the  universal 
praise.  Upon  it  there  began  to  be  a  stir  in  the  street,  where 
many  a  grave  face  and  formal  tread,  and  many  a  gay  ribbon 
and  elastic  step,  were  going  up  to  the  temple ;  and  who  may 
dare  to  say  which  was  the  more  acceptable  offering  ?  for  is  not 
gladness  the  most  grateful  aroma  of  thanksgiving  ?  Is  not 
the  happiness  of  the  creature  the  design  and  the  hope  of  the 
Creator  ? 

On  arising  from  breakfast  Elery  and  Fred  retired  to  a  rural 
seat  in  the  garden,  where,  having  finished  her  morning  duties, 
Flora  soon  joined  them  ;  and,  finding  the  shade  of  the  trees 
more  inviting  than  the  shelter  of  the  roof,  there  most  of  the 
day  was  passed,  where  they  could  catch  glimpses  of  that  flash 
ing  sapphire  dome  which  suggests  the  eternal  temple,  and 
disposes  the  soul  to  worship. 


348  THE    MUST  BE,    OR 

Gentle  and  cordial  was  their  converse.  Yet,  after  a  time, 
when  the  day  was  declining,  Flora  said,  "  I  saw  that  you 
brought  out  some  books ;  let  me  go  in  and  get  one,  and  you 
will  read  to  me." 

"  If  such  be  your  wish,  I  should  like  the  first  volume  of 
Landor."  This  was  a  work  which  Elery  had  taken  up  in  a 
bookstore  in  Glasgow  on  his  last  voyage,  and  was  so  struck 
with  the  passages  at  which  he  glanced  that  he  purchased  it. 

"When  she  returned  he  selected  the  Imaginary  Conversation 
between  Brooke  and  Sidney,  and  read ;  and  then  that  between 
Marcus  Tullius  and  Quinctus  Cicero  —  strains  of  great  and 
humanizing  thought,  in  periods  formed  like  diamonds,  and  fin 
ished  to  the  translucency  of  that  polished  gem. 

Pardon  me,  indulgent  reader,  if  I  linger  long  around  this 
home  of  charity  in  a  tender  spirit,  for  to  me  it  is  a  holy 
place  ;  and  I  know  of  none  where  the  grace  of  the  All-giver 
has  more  manifestly  descended.  Peace  dwells  here  and  kind 
ness  aboundeth  ;  while  that  love  of  which  Plato  dreamed  is 
binding  up  a  wounded  heart  and  pouring  its  cheerful  light  on 
the  path  of  the  desolate.  So  Flora  often  thought,  and  the  re 
flection  was  as  a  precious  balsam  to  her  hurts ;  while  the  pres 
ence  of  the  benefactor  poured  it  afresh,  and  the  warm,  low 
breathings  of  outward  nature  so  heightened  the  charm  and 
winged  the  passing  hours  that  the  day  vanished  ere  they  were 
aware. 

It  was  one  of  those  evenings  of  dark  and  crimson  clouds, 
as  if  there  had  been  battle  in  the  heavens ;  and  Nature,  bear 
ing  the  sun  like  a  bleeding  paladin  to  his  pavilion,  came  with 
the  pale  twilight  to  mourn  his  dying,  followed  by  the  weeping 
shadows  of  night  —  a  sadly  solemn  funeral  procession  moving 
along  the  landscape.  This  touched  them  with  a  melancholy 
which  is  sweeter  than  mirth,  making  them  feel  the  worth  of 
friendship,  if  not  the  witchery  of  love. 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  849 

Fred  appeared  weary  after  tea ;  but,  rousing  up  as  with  a 
new  thought,  and  running  to  the  sailor,  he  said,  "  Now  where 
be  my  ship  ?  " 

"  O,  she's  not  far  off,"  and,  going  out,  he  returned  with  her 
in  a  few  minutes.  It  was  a  pleasant  sight,  for  those  who  were 
looking  on,  to  see  how  full  the  child's  glad  heart  was,  and  ob 
serve  how  he  hovered  near,  and  many  times  spelled  her  name, 
—  for  Muse  was  lettered  along  her  quarter,  —  and  touched  her 
tenderly,  as  if  fearing  to  hurt  her.  Yet,  after  a  time,  be 
coming  satisfied  with  handling,  he  asked  to  have  the  model 
raised  to  the  mantel-piece,  which  was  done  ;  and  never  did 
ancient  Roman  place  among  his  Lares  a  more  significant 
object  of  worship  than  was  that  ship  for  that  cottage. 

Flora's  eyes  moistened  when  she  saw  the  vessel ;  partly  in 
sympathy  with  her  boy,  but  chiefly  because  it  called  to  mind  a 
scene  with  which  it  was  associated  in  her  memory  —  the  scene 
of  the  visit  to  the  sailors'  quarters.  Whereupon  she  said,  "  I 
hope,  Captain  Elery,  that  my  friends  consented  to  keep  a  por 
tion  of  that  money." 

"  No,  not  a  dollar ;  you  could  not  force  them  to  take  it." 

"  Strange  self-forgetfulness  !     What  will  they  do  ?  " 

"  O,  they  are  not  troubled ;  and,  really,  I  think  that  they 

may  be  gainers  by  the  gift.     Certainly  I  am,  for  they've  all 

taken  a  month's  advance  and  shipped  with  me  for  Europe. 

And  I'm  very  glad  to  inform  you,  also,  that  through  their 

means  you're  now  part  owner  of  the  Muse,  as  I  have  taken 

the  liberty  to  buy  a  thirty-second  portion  of  the  ship  on  your 

account."     When  handing  her  some  bank  bills,  he  continued, 

"  And  there  is  the  balance  of  the  fund,  which  I  hope  you  will 

use  as  freely  as  it  was  given.     I  made  the  purchase  without 

consulting  you,  because  I  thought  it  necessary  to  attend  to 

the  business  when  I  had  a  good  offer ;   and  I  inform  you 

of  it  now,  thinking  that  I  may  not  have  another  opportunity 

30 


350  THE    MUSTEE,   OR 

very  soon,  as  OUT  craft  will  be  ready  for  sea  to-morrow 
night." 

On  hearing  this,  Flora  leaned  her  brow  upon  her  hand,  and 
the  tears  flowed  in  silence  ;  and  long  they  sat  in  that  prayer 
ful  stillness,  without  speech,  yet  perfectly  intelligent  of  each 
other,  as  though  every  breath  had  been  a  whispered  word. 
At  length  Fred  gave  signs  of  sleeping  ;  so  that,  after  a  while, 
Flora  rose  up,  and  taking  the  child,  laid  him  in  his  bed. 

On  coming  out,  Elery  arose  to  meet  her ;  and,  taking  her 
hand,  drew  her  arm  within  his,  saying,  "  Let  us  walk  in  the 
garden." 

Silently  they  moved  over  the  path  many  times,  while  the 
soft  south  wind  fanned  them  and  calmed  their  pulses ;  and, 
when  the  waves  of  emotion  had  something  subsided,  Flora 
said,  softly,  "  Are  you  really  going  away  so  soon  ?  " 

"  Such  are  the  orders.  And,  on  the  whole,  I  like  the  ra 
pidity  of  the  move,  as  business  is  good,  and  we  want  our  ship 
to  make  money,  so  that  you  can  have  every  thing  which  may 
contribute  to  your  comfort." 

"  Have  you  any  idea  that  I  can  ever  be  more  happy  than  I 
am  now  ?  O,  how  this  contrasts  with  what  was  !  Even  in  the 
light  of  day  I  gaze  from  the  window,  I  look  from  the  door, 
for  proof  that  I  am  not  dreaming;  and  when  I  awake  in  the 
veiling  darkness,  it  is  long  before  I  can  believe  in  the  glorious 
translation,  so  beautiful  and  so  blessed  is  the  land  to  which 
you  have  led  me." 

"  If  you  could  know  how  much  protecting  you  has  blessed 
and  exalted  us,  I  think  that  you  would  see  how  all  the  mate 
rial  aid  which  we  have  rendered  is  as  nothing  in  our  sight. 
Can  you  still  imagine  that  you  are  greatly  indebted  to  us,  be 
cause  such  is  the  way  of  the  world  that  they  only  name  as  a 
gift  what  they  can  clutch  in  their  hands  ?  Yet  one  would 
think  that  even  the  sordid  might  see  that  there  are  more  glo- 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  351 

rious  givers  than  Astor  could  be ;  when  in  his  own  counting 
house  there  was  a  clerk  who  fused  in  his  fiery  heart  the  vic 
tory  of  Botzaris  into  song,  and  gave  it  to  mankind  —  among 
whom  it  will  live,  and  be  loved,  long  after  the  last  vestige  of 
the  fortune  or  the  munificence  of  his  employer  shall  have  dis 
appeared.  You,  also,  have  given  us  the  most  ennobling  voy 
age  that  we  shall  ever  behold  ;  and  the  memory  of  it  will  help 
to  guide  and  keep  us  in  all  coming  time.  The  earth,  by  its  in 
fluence,  has  become  more  charming,  and  the  sea  more  musical ; 
while  the  stars  shine  brighter  and  awaken  thoughts  which 
they  stirred  not  before.  Hereafter  I  shall  walk  the  Muse's 
deck,  in  the  night's  solemn  stillness,  amid  pleasing  recollec 
tions,  and  bear  up  against  the  furies  of  the  storm,  or,  if  it 
must  needs  be,  go  down  into  the  ocean's  bosom,  with  a  more 
undaunted  heart  and  a  serener  faith.  Is  it  not  something  to 
have  achieved  all  this  from  one  action ;  and  will  you  not  let 
us  make  some  poor  return  for  it  ?  " 

It  was  many  seconds  before  Flora  could  reply ;  but  at  length 
she  said,  "  It  is  well.  You  have  laid  it  open  as  I  never  saw 
it  before,  showing  me  how  the  charm  of  the  gift  reflects  upon 
the  giver ;  so  that  I  feel  it  to  be  God's  doing.  He  it  is  who 
touches  right  giving,  and  right  receiving,  with  the  hues  of 
heaven,  and  breathes  over  them  the  same  blessing.  Indeed, 
I  now  see  so  clearly  that  I  question  no  further,  but  accept  the 
obligation  cheerfully;  and  you  may  say  to  my  generous  friends, 
I  receive  their  gift  in  something  of  the  spirit  in  which  it  was 
offered ;  as  your  words  have  exalted  me  to  feel,  for  the  mo 
ment  at  least,  like  one  who  has  bestowed  great  benefits.  To 
morrow  did  you  say?" 

"  Yes,  if  the  wind  be  fair,  we  shall  go  down  the  harbor  in 
the  evening,  and  perhaps  put  immediately  to  sea.  But  the 
months  will  quickly  glide  away,  so  that  I  shall  soon  be  out 
here  again ;  and,  in  the  mean  time,  I  want  you,  out  of  kind- 


352  THE    M  US  TEE,     OR 

ness  to  me,  to  take  every  comfort  which  money  can  procure. 
This  is  what  I  most  earnestly  desire ;  and,  when  I  meet 
you  at  your  door  once  more,  I  hope  to  see  you  looking  as 
if  you  had  found  pleasure  in  complying  with  my  wishes.  Will 
you  try  to  remember  it,  Flora  ?  " 

"  O,  how  can  I  forget  ?  "  she  faltered. 

When  feeling  the  motion  of  her  grief,  he  said,  as  he  gently 
pressed  her  arm  to  his  side,  "  Do  not  weep." 

Looking  up  in  his  face,  she  replied,  softly,  "  You  will  not 
deny  me  the  tears  of  gratitude,  for  they  unfold  the  heart 
as  the  dew  the  flowers ; "  but  noticing  his  wet  eyes,  she  con 
tinued,  "  nor  chide  me  for  partaking  of  a  luxury  in  which  you 
indulge  yourself  so  freely ! " 

The  sailor  brushed  the  drops  from  his  cheeks  as  he  moved 
towards  the  street,  where,  taking  her  hand,  he  whispered, 
"  Farewell,"  when  the  gate  closed  softly,  the  door  swung  si 
lent,  and  —  he  was  gone. 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  353 


CHAPTER    XXXYI. 

Alas !  our  young  affections  run  to  waste 
Or  water  but  the  desert ;  whence  arise 
But  weeds  of  dark  luxuriance,  tares  of  haste, 
Rank  at  the  core,  though  tempting  to  the  eyes  ; 
Flowers,  whose  wild  odors  breathe  but  agonies, 
And  trees  whose  gums  are  poison  ;  such  the  plants 
Which  spring  beneath  her  steps  as  Passion  flies 
O'er  the  world's  wilderness,  and  vainly  pants 
For  some  celestial  fruit,  forbidden  to  our  wants. 

BYRON. 

ALTHOUGH  the  changes  of  time  are  sure  and  unremitting, 
they  yet  come  so  softly  that  they  give  no  shock,  and  leave 
scarcely  a  perceptible  trace  in  passing;  it  is  passion  that 
ploughs  and  disappointment  that  harrows.  Under  such  influ 
ences  the  queenly  beauty  of  Aurelia  began  to  grow  dim  and 
fade  ;  even  her  voice  was  losing  its  music  and  becoming  harsh : 
thus  the  silent  Arachnes,  that  spin  unrestingly  in  the  brain, 
were  clothing  her  with  a  new  and  a  repulsive  garment,  which 
all  the  trappings  of  wealth  could  not  hide  nor  its  gems  adorn. 

It  would  have  been  surprising  if  Park  had  not  seen  so 
disenchanting  a  change.  Yet,  at  first,  he  looked  upon  it 
writh  doubt  and  misgiving,  though  there  came  times  when 
it  struck  him  with  amazement.  Then,  in  thought,  he  would 
go  down  through  all  the  past,  and  finding  no  trait  of  it 
there,  he  would  say,  "  It  cannot  be."  But  when  next  they 
met,  in  the  company  of  others,  up  would  come  the  fact.  So 
the  vividness  and  certainty  of  present  impression  began  to 
assert  their  power,  causing  to  spring  up  in  his  heart,  slowly, 
reluctantly,  yet  completely,  the  conviction  that  he  had  not  only 
30* 


354  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

met  with  no  loss,  but  some  friendly  Guiding  Hand  had  led 
him  bleeding  from  the  path  of  danger.  Thus,  one  by  one,  the 
silken  fillets  that  bound  Park  to  Aurelia  were  broken,  as  it 
were  by  a  breath  ;  and  if  it  made  him  sad  to  see  them  sever, 
he  at  length  rose  up  free,  with  a  heart  enlarged  for  humanity 
and  a  new-born  hope  for  the  future.  He  could  then  meet  her 
as  he  met  the  world.  She  had  taken  her  place  among  ac 
quaintance,  perhaps  clients.  Thenceforward  she  could  be 
little  more  to  him  than  a  fact  of  human  experience,  to  come 
forth  on  the  tide  of  his  thought  to  thrill  or  illustrate  discourse. 

"  Well,  it  was  singular,"  said  Park  to  himself,  when  even 
the  scar  had  disappeared.  "  I  have  had  a  narrow  escape  — 
how  different  she  is  from  what  I  thought  her ! "  But  this, 
though  a  view  which  we  are  inclined  to  take,  —  it  being  the 
only  consolation  that  may  be  left  us,  —  is  not  kindly  done,  and 
more,  it  is  not  often  just ;  for  we  are  such  creatures,  and  such 
victims  of  circumstance,  that  we  cannot  say  what  one  might 
have  been  under  other  influences.  Indeed,  it  must  be  evident 
to  the  discerning  that  had  Aurelia  wedded  Park  instead  of 
Featherstone,  she  would  have  unfolded  into  all  womanly  excel 
lence,  and  those  who  knew  her  intimately  would  have  wondered 
at  the  continuance  of  her  beauty,  while  seeing  many  an  occasion 
to  commend  her  love-overflowing  heart,  her  sweet,  low  voice, 
and  night-long  vigils  by  the  couch  of  the  sick  and  suffering. 
Truly,  it  was  a  sad  misstep  which  she  had  taken  amid  that 
thoughtless  revel;  entering  upon  a  path  rosy  to  the  sight,  but 
thorny  to  the  sense,  where  the  air  soon  blighted  her  one 
season,  even  in  its  spring  time;  and  thereon  had  followed 
the  nipping  frosts  that  deepened  ever  more  into  winter  with 
its  desolating  blasts. 

Park,  having  got  his  Mcftae  case  referred,  was  before  the 
referees.  They  had  been  in  session  some  days  in  the  town  of 
Greenville;  and,  it  being  the  pleasant  autumn  season,  the 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  355 

gentlemen  were  disposed  to  hear  the  testimony  leisurely,  and 
view  the  premises  frequently ;  so  that  it  was  rather  an  agree 
able  diversion  when  compared  with  a  trial  in  the  city  courts. 

Mrs.  Featherstone  was  also  in  the  village,  passing  a  few 
weeks  with  a  relative.  She  had  chosen  that  time  because  she 
took  an  interest  in  the  pending  arbitration,  as  it  concerned  her 
friend  and  bridemaid  Annie  McRae.  She,  however,  saw  Park 
occasionally,  at  some  social  meetings  on  account  of  the  court. 
And,  on  one  evening,  as  the  case  was  drawing  near  its  close, 
he  walked  down  the  street,  when  accidentally  meeting  her 
by  the  steps  of  the  house  in  which  she  was  visiting,  he  talked 
with  her  a  moment,  and,  accepting  her  invitation,  went  in.  It 
was  not  long,  however,  before  he  inquired  for  Mrs.  Howard, 
when  she  came  down.  In  a  few  minutes  after,  Miss  McRae 
and  a  Miss  Graves  came  in,  and  they  had  scarcely  entered  into 
conversation  before  the  bell  rang  and  the  Rev.  Joseph  Frink 
was  introduced.  He  was  somewhat  squat  in  figure,  and  still 
shock-headed,  as  when  a  boy,  with  features  which  indicated 
pugnacity  rather  than  nobleness  of  purpose.  And  having  re 
cently  returned  from  Europe,  where  he  had  only  added  to  his 
coarseness  and  self-conceit,  he  entered  with  the  assurance 
which  this  circumstance  is  apt  to  give  to  persons  of  his  stamp. 

If  it  made  Park  smile  to  see  so  much  sounding  brass,  it 
aroused  Aurelia  to  ring  a  few  changes  on  him,  as  she  knew 
that  her  cousin,  and,  indeed,  most  of  the  parish,  thought  him  a 
great  man.  And,  as  he  had  not  talked  two  minutes-  before  he 
mentioned  Europe,  she,  knowing  their  prejudices,  inquired, 
"  How  did  you  like  the  opera  ?  " 

Mr.  Frink,  thinking  to  please  her,  and  caring  little  for  the 
opinion  of  those  members  of  his  church  who  thought  it  a  du 
bious  clerical  taste,  replied,  with  evident  pleasure,  "  It  was 
capital !  O,  it  was  magnificent !  You  can  know  but  little 
of  the  scope  or  of  the  art  and  appointments  of  the  mu- 


356  THE     MUSTEE,     OR 

sical  drama  unless  you  witness  the  performance  in  Paris  or 
Milan." 

Slightly  annoyed  by  the  inopportune  calls,  Aurelia  felt  mis 
chievous.  And  knowing  that  the  parson  had  talked  of  his 
travels  until  they  had  become  a  bore,  even  to  his  friends,  she 
said,  "  I  should  like  to  hear  your  adventures  on  the  Desert, 
and  your  description  of  the  Holy  City." 

Delighted  with  the  compliment,  the  reverend  traveller 
was  just  branching  off,  and  had  mentioned  Egypt,  —  which 
seemed  like  sand  in  his  mouth,  and  from  which  he  would  have 
passed  on  to  Jerusalem  by  a  route  more  tedious  than  that  of 
the  children  of  Israel,  —  when  Miss  Graves  cunningly  changed 
his  course  by  inquiring,  "  Have  you  seen  the  Spanish  lady, 
since  you  spoke  to  me  about  her,  Mr.  Frink  ?  " 

This  being  a  subject  on  which  he  was  inquisitive,  he  dropped 
the  other,  and  bluntly  replied,  "  No !  Have  you  heard  any 
thing  new  ?  " 

"  Mrs.  Featherstone  and  I  met  her  and  the  boy  in  a  store 
this  afternoon." 

"  Well,  how  does  her  color  correspond  with  the  report  in 
circulation  ?  " 

"  She  seems  to  me  more  Moor  than  Spaniard ;  and  I  believe 
that  there  is  negro  blood  in  her  veins.  She  is  much  bleached, 
I  admit,  yet  there  are  certain  indelible  marks  which  cling 
longer  than  their  skin.  She  has  a  peculiarly  indescribable 
something  in  the  eye  that  I  never  saw  a  white  person  with,  or 
a  colored  one  without.  You  may  observe  their  finger  nails, 
also,  —  and  hers  still  retain  the  sign,  —  and  you  will  find  them 
marked  with  the  unmistakable  color  which  the  sun  of  Africa 
engenders,  and  which  neither  clime  nor  circumstance  can 
wholly  obliterate." 

"  Perhaps  she  dyes  her  nails  with  henna,"  Park  suggested. 
"  It  may  be  that  she  has  escaped  from  some  Eastern  seraglio, 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY. 


as  the  corsair  bore  the  favorite  from  the  blazing  palace  of  the 
pacha." 

"  She  would  have  reigned  in  the  sultan's,  though  like 
Lolah  she  was  dusk  as  India  !  "  said  Aurelia.  "  And  I  should 
like  much  to  hear  the  story  of  her  life,  for  she  is  gentle  yet 
strong,  and  has  passed  through  that  which  develops  character. 
Hearing  so  many  conjectures  about  her,  since  I  came  here,  I 
observed  her  attentively,  and,  whoever  she  is,  she  is  no  ordinary 
person.  Her  eyes  have  the  serenity  of  truth  itself,  and  her 
lips  the  firmness  to  utter  it  in  any  presence  ;  while  there  is 
something  in  her  carriage  which  reveals  that,  in  extremity,  she 
would  front  her  foe  with  the  heroism  of  Saragoza's  maid. 
Did  you  visit  Spain,  in  your  travels,  Mr.  Frink  ?  " 

"  O,  no  !  no  interest  attaches  to  her  institutions,  com 
paratively  ;  and  she  has  no  facilities  of  conveyance,  so  that, 
when  one  gets  into  her  midst,  he  could  not  guess  how  long 
it  might  take  him  to  finish  her  ;  and  that  is  likely  to  be 
looked  to  by  one  who  did  the  pictures  of  the  Dresden  Gal 
lery  in  a  day  ! "  On  this  he  swept  his  eye  around  the  circle, 
as  though  he  waited  only  to  be  crowned. 

Taking  the  meaning  of  his  expression,  Park  said,  "  You 
must  read  the  works  of  art  with  singular  facility  !  for  to  that 
hall  Raphael  has  given  the  infant  Jesus  and  the  peerless  Mother, 
on  which  canvas  there  is  more  Christianity  than  in  all  the 
wreck  and  relics  of  Jerusalem.  Do  you  find  nothing  interest 
ing  in  Spain  ?  I  could  not  see  the  Pyrenees  and  turn  away 
from  them.  The  very  name  of  Iberia  thrills  me,  for  around 
it  cluster  the  shades  of  Roman  armies  slain,  and  consuls  led 
captive  !  Even  her  still  seclusion  has  a  charm  that  would 
lead  me  to  linger  with  her  muleteers  through  all  the  storied 
land.  And  where,  down  so  many  ages,  has  the  blood  of  a 
nation  flowed  in  such  gallant  and  courageous  current,  adorned 
with  knights  and  ladies  who  have  inspired  IKT  ballads  to 


358  THEMUSTEE,     OR 

be  the  best  in  the  world ;  while  their  rent  and  ruined  pal 
aces,  all  tenantless  though  they  are,  would  touch  my  heart 
like  holy  .places.  And  if  the  Spaniard  had  not  made  his 
country  glorious,  if  it  were  not  immortal  in  the  smile  of  Cer 
vantes,  the  Briton  has  consecrated  the  Peninsula  —  every  vale 
and  mount  are  vocal  with  the  bugles  of  Wellington." 

"  You  must  have  been  in  Spain  and  staid  a  long  time," 
said  Frink. 

"  Yes,  a  very  long  time ;  for  I  was  with  Scipio  when  he 
gave  up  the  captive  maid,  and  went  with  Columbus  when  he 
sought  the  assistance  of  the  queen  ! " 

"  Any  body  can  travel  in  that  way  !  "  said  the  parson  in  a 
tone  that  savored  of  contempt  for  such  ideal  visitors.  "  But 
I  have  been  on  the  banks  of  the  Jordan,  and  brought  home 
some  bottles  of  the  water  ! " 

"  That  is  something  for  which  I  have  no  thirst ;  as  I  hold  it 
to  be  the  initiatory  stage  of  superstition,  a  link  in  that  chain 
which  weighs  down  so  many  nations,  and  chafes  and  scars 
well  nigh  every  heart." 

"  I  think  that  impious  !  for  we  use  it  to  baptize  with." 

"  I  may  be,  in  your  judgment.  Yet  to  so  use  it,  is  to  lay 
the  foundation  for  the  worship  of  the  wood  of  the  cross." 

This  being  too  sacred  ground  for  Mr.  Frink  to  venture  fur 
ther  upon  with  so  profane  a  person,  he  made  no  reply.  Or  it 
might  be  that  he  saw,  in  a  tray  of  cake  and  fruit,  with  which 
a  waiter  was  entering,  matter  more  worthy  of  his  attention, 
as  his  digestive  powers  were  still  conspicuous  among  his 
faculties  ;  yet  in  their  exercise  he  had  no  sympathy  with  the 
plain  and  homely,  any  more  than  he  had  with  those  classes  of 
his  parishioners. 

During  the  repast,  Annie,  taking  a  seat  beside  Aurelia, 
inquired,  "  Did  you  speak  to  the  person  whom  they  call  the 
Spanish  lady?" 


LOVE     AND    LIBERTY.  359 

"  No,  I  did  not ;  but  Miss  Graves  found  an  excuse  to  do  so, 
in  asking  her  to  join  your  sewing  circle." 

"  Did  she  accept  the  invitation  ?  " 

"  No.  And  it  would  have  given  you  pleasure  to  have  ob 
served  the  manner  of  her  declining,  for  the  grace  of  her 
utterance  I  cannot  convey." 

"  I  desire  to  see  her  —  particularly  since  she  has  so  im 
pressed  you  ! " 

"  Then  why  do  you  not  call  on  her  ?  Were  I  living  here, 
I  certainly  would  gain  her  acquaintance,  if  possible." 

"  I  have  thought  of  it,  and  now  I  am  impatient  to  know  her." 

The  edibles  being  disposed  of,  the  parson  withdrew  ;  and, 
soon  after,  Miss  Graves  and  Annie  took  leave. 

As  they  walked  away  together,  Miss  Graves  inquired,  "  Are 
you  much  acquainted  with  Mr.  Featherstone  ?  " 

"  A  very  little ;  I  have  seen  him  only  a  few  times." 

"  I  hear  that  their  union  is  not  quite  a  perfect  one." 

"  I  do  not  see  how  it  could  be.  Yet  an  unhappy  marriage 
is  an  unspeakable  thing ;  no  vulture  at  the  heart  of  Prome 
theus  had  so  sharp  a  beak,  or  tore  with  such  untiring  talons." 

"  I  do  not  think  that  she  desires  our  pity,  as  her  manner 
discloses  her  to  be  rather  defiant  than  sorrowful,  and  her  old 
lover  is  still  attentive." 

"  He  is  here  attending  to  my  father's  lawsuit." 

"  Perhaps  she  may  be  prosecuting  a  suit  here  ;  at  least, 
marriage  does  not  appear  to  have  changed  the  current  of  her 
feeling,  or  called  home  all  her  tender  glances." 

"  If  Aurelia  has  found  disappointment  in  marriage,  my 
heart  could  bleed  for  her.  But  I  have  no  sympathy  for  the 
idea  that  she  finds  in  Mr.  Park  any  thing  but  a  friend." 

"  I  have  not  said  that  she  does." 

"  You  certainly  made  such  insinuations  ;  and  they  are  among 
the  most  hurtful  of  weapons." 


360  THE    MUSTEE,    OB 

Having  then  reached  her  father's  gate,  they  separated; 
and,  entering,  she  found  him  looking  at  plans  and  deeds  ;  upon 
which  he  rose  up,  and  met  her  with  a  smile  and  a  kiss,  for  he 
had  been  musing  of  success. 

Soon  after  the  visitors  had  gone,  Mrs.  Howard  having  with 
drawn,  Park  said,  "  You  must  have  been  quite  taken  by  the 
lady  of  the  cottage,  as  they  name  her." 

"  Yes,  she  pleased  me  much.  Yet  the  child  took  my  atten 
tion  more,  for  he  reminded  me  of  Mr.  Featherstone  ;  not  that 
their  features  particularly  resemble,  but  their  air  and  motion 
are  similar." 

"  How  old  is  the  boy  ?  " 

"  Four  or  five  years,  I  should  think ;  and  I  wish  that  you 
could  see  him  walk  across  the  store  as  I  did  ;  the  likeness  was 
in  every  joint ! " 

"  I  presume  it  was  nothing  more  than  one  of  those  fancies 
which  sometimes  beset  us,  and  may  be  traced  to  their  causes ; 
you  were  probably  thinking  of  your  husband  shortly  before." 

"  That,  certainly,  was  not  the  cause  ;  for  no  person  was,  and 
no  one  could  have  been,  farther  from  my  thoughts." 

"  Then  you  think  the  lady  remarkable  both  for  mind  and 
beauty?" 

"  Yes,  she  really  awed  me  by  her  manner,  and  pleased  me 
as  I  listened  to  her  replies  to  Miss  Graves ;  for  the  words 
which  she  used  were  suited  to  the  size  of  the  thought  con 
veyed,  while  her  accent  was  native,  and  her  pronunciation  pure. 
Then,  too,  her  features  are  fine,  and  so  plastic  as  to  herald  and 
heighten  her  ideas.  Even  her  color  is  scarcely  an  objection, 
as  she  is  not  so  dark  as  many  a  northern  brunette ;  but  then 
their  brown  lies  on  the  surface,  while  hers  seems  to  strike  up 
through,  as  Titian  and  Nature  paint.  And,  over  all,  there  is 
a  veil  of  mystery,  as  if  there  were  some  romance  in  her  story 
that  may  not  be  told. 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  361 

1  Yet  who  can  keep  in  semblance  long, 
Or  hide  the  key  note  of  their  song, 
Or  hope  to  mask  in  mourning  weeds, 
When  glances  tell  love's  secret  beads  ? '  " 

Thereupon  the  conversation  gradually  died  away,  and  they 
sat  near  each  other,  some  minutes,  in  silence.  Aurelia,  in 
truth,  paused  through  agitation ;  and  Park  liked  to  sit  so,  not 
thinking  it  necessary  to  be  always  talking  or  listening,  if  with 
discerning  friends ;  yet  he  found  such  pleasure  in  congenial 
companions,  that,  when  at  leisure,  he  sought  to  be  near  one  ; 
this,  indeed,  was  healthful  to  his  nature. 

At  length,  however,  he  arose  to  go,  (they  had  been  sitting 
in  the  back  parlor,  which  connected  with  the  front  by  sliding 
doors  that  were  drawn  partly  back,  and  through  which  the 
visitors  had  entered,)  and  giving  her  his  hand  they  moved  on 
slowly  together,  when  she  said,  "Why  must  you  leave  me 
now  ?  "  Seeing  that  he  hesitated,  she  pressed  as  though  she 
would  retain  his  hand ;  and,  turning,  he  suffered  himself  to 
be  led  to  a  sofa  by  her  bewitching  fingers,  which  were  warm, 
agitated,  and  even  convulsive  ;  yet  his  thrilled  to  no  emotion, 
warmed  to  no  kindred  pulse,  were  only  passive  and  resigned ; 
so  that,  in  a  few  moments  after  they  were  seated  in  the  dusky 
silence,  she  suddenly  released  her  clasp  of  the  lifeless  thing, 
when  it  slowly  slid  down  by  her  side.  Yet,  in  an  instant,  she 
sighed  over  the  loss !  for  she  felt  as  if  her  last  wild  hope  was 
taking  its  departure.  With  that  thought  tears  came ;  and 
then  a  deep  hysterical  sob ;  when  Park  turned  quickly 
towards  her,  and  leaned  so  near  that  her  head  drooped  in  very 
weakness,  or  recklessness,  upon  his  breast.  On  this  he  invol 
untarily  drew  his  arm  around  to  support  her ;  but,  her  heart 
beating  against  it  as  though  it  would  leap  through  her  heaving 
bosom,  he  divined  the  nature  of  her  excitement,  and  drawing 
31 


362  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

off,  said,  "  You  must  calm  yourself,  or  I  shall  be  obliged  to 
consign  you  to  the  care  of  Mrs.  Howard." 

These  words,  spoken  in  a  subdued  but  determined  tone,  and 
glittering  all  over  with  frost,  transformed  Aurelia  to  the  cold 
ness  and  rigidity  of  marble ;  and,  starting  up,  she  stood 
gazing  at  him  as  if  petrified. 

This  swept  painfully  over  Park's  feelings  ;  and,  taking  her 
icy  hand,  he  said,  tenderly,  "  Aurelia,  will  you  permit  me  to 
be  your  friend  ?  " 

"  Friend  !  "  gasped  she  ;  and  then  laughing  a  bitter  laugh, 
she  caught  away  her  fingers,  again  to  regret  it  fearfully  —  for 
she  was  at  direst  strife  with  herself. 

"  Yes,  friend  !  "  replied  Park  ;  "  it  is  too  late  for  aught 
more.  Think  you  that  the  love  which  was  carelessly  cast 
away  can  revive  and  return  again  ?  " 

"  Am  I  alone  to  blame  that  it  was  so  lost  to  me  ?  " 

"  Is  any  part  of  the  fault  mine  ?  for  you  seem  as  if  you 
thought  so." 

"  Was  it  not  wrong  to  leave  me  so  long  in  doubt  of  your 
affection,  so  surrounded  as  you  must  have  known  me  to  be  ? 
yet  I  scorn  all  explanation.  Friends  !  do  you  think  that  we 
can  befriends  ?  No,  never  !  Where  the  fire  of  love  has  been 
spurned,  and  its  ashes  scattered,  only  hate  can  spring  up  ! " 
and  turning  away  she  paced  the  apartment  in  tearless  silence. 

Park  sat  a  few  moments  amid  conflicting  emotions  ;  but  at 
length,  rising  up,  he  drew  near  to  her,  and  gently  inquired, 
"  Shall  I  go  now  ?  " 

On  this  she  came  so  close  to  him  that  he  felt  the  breath  of 
her  words,  and  the  despair  of  her  heart,  as  she  said,  "  Do  you 
wish  to  part  with  me  forever  ?  "  And  then,  "  O  Heaven,  that 
I  should  still  question  ! " 

Park  hesitated,  while  some  sad  drops  of  pity  came ;  but,  in 
a  moment,  he  calmly  replied,  "That  shall  be  as  you  choose."* 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY. 


"  Then  it  is  my  pleasure  that  you  go  ; "  and  on  the  word  he 
departed. 

Intense  as  was  the  gleam  in  Aurelia's  eyes  when  she  ut 
tered  those  inevitably  conclusive  words,  still  more  intense  was 
the  torture  that  followed  thereon.  Foiled,  slighted,  mortified 
to  the  utmost  extremity,  she  threw  herself  upon  the  sofa,  and 
spurned  at  the  bitter  and  sickening  thoughts  which  boiled 
up  in  her  seething  brain,  and  rolled  burning  through  her  re 
bellious  heart.  And  full  deeply,  ay,  pitiably,  did  she  learn,  in 
that  hour,  what  many  a  beautiful,  but  falsely-aspiring  creature 
has  found,  and  many  a  one  will  yet  find  —  that  love  is  its  own 
most  fearful  and  most  desolating  avenger. 


364  THE     MUSTEE,     OR 


CHAPTER    XXXVII. 


Bear  welcome  in  your  eye, 

Your  hand,  your  tongue  :  look  like  the  innocent  flower, 
But  be  the  serpent  under  it.  SHAKSPEAKE. 


ON  the  following  morning,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Frink  called  at  the 
village  hotel  and  inquired  for  Mr.  Park.  Mr.  Frink  had  the 
politeness  to  call  upon  all  distinguished  strangers  who  visited 
Greenville,  although  they  did  not  come  with  the  expectation 
of  such  a  favor. 

In  a  moment  the  servant  who  received  the  order,  returning, 
said,  "  The  gentleman  is  in  ; "  and  Mr.  Frink  followed  him  to 
the  room. 

On  being  shown  in,  and  seeing  Park  busy  with  his.  papers, 
he  made  an  elaborate  apology  for  the  interruption,  yet  with 
the  air  of  one  who  thinks  his  company  the  amplest  remunera 
tion.  And  drumming  a  moment  on  the  arm  of  the  chair  in 
which  he  had  seated  himself,  he  added,  "  I  have  just  received 
a  letter  from  my  brother  in  New  Orleans,  which  I  wish  to  lay 
before  you,  as  therein  he  requests  that  I  should  see  some  New 
York  lawyer  and  employ  him  to  look  after  the  matter." 

"  What  is  the  nature  of  the  business  ?  "  inquired  Park,  with 
cold  civility. 

"  It  appears  that  he  has  lost  two  slaves,  a  woman  and  a  boy, 
both  of  them  nearly  white  —  the  mother  being  about  twenty- 
three,  and  the  child  four  or  five  years  of  age.  He  believes 
that  they  escaped  on  a  ship  bound  to  New  York,  and  probably 
are  somewhere  in  this  vicinity.  He  suspects  so,  because  they 
formerly  belonged  to  a  man  who  lives  in  your  city ;  and  he  sup- 


LOVE     AND    LIBERTY.  365 

poses  that  they  would  naturally  flee  to  him,  as  he  is  the  father 
of  the  child.  The  names  of  the  fugitives  are  Flora  and  Fred." 

"  Does  your  brother  communicate  the  name  of  the  previous 
owner  ?  " 

"  I  find  that  he  cannot  remember,  exactly ;  but  he  thinks 
his  first  name  is  Anthony,  and  his  last,  Fetter—-  something, 
and  what,  he  don't  know." 

"  Fetter  !    do  you  say  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  that  is  all  I  can  make  of  it." 

"  The  last  syllable  may  be  *  son,' "  suggested  Park  ;  "  or,  at 
least,  it  would  be  appropriate.  Let  me  look  at  the  letter,  if 
you  please." 

"  It  is  written  so  badly  that  I  am  ashamed  to  show  it.  He 
used  to  do  such  things  very  well ;  but  it  seems  that  he  undertook 
to  chase  the  fugitives  on  a  steamer,  and  was  blown  up  in  the 
scrape,  losing  an  eye  and  parts  of  both  hands  ;  and  this  is  the 
first  business  which  he  has  been  able  to  do  since  the  accident." 

"  Does  he  give  any  particular  instructions,  or  directions  ?  " 

"  Nothing  special ;  the  whole  letter  is  very  indefinite.  He 
simply  wishes  to  have  the  matter  looked  after,  and  he  will  pay 
well  —  to  do  which,  I  may  add  that  he  is  abundantly  able." 

"  I  think  you  must  let  me  have  the  letter  if  I  am  to  exam 
ine  the  affair  with  any  reference  to  action." 

"  Well,  I  have  no  great  objection,  if  you  will  observe  se 
crecy  with  regard  to  the  whole  thing ;  for  no  one  here  knows 
that  I  have  such  a  brother,  and  I  prefer  that  they  should  not." 

Park  took  the  proffered  letter,  and,  placing  it  in  his  green 
bag,  said,  "  I  will  peruke  it  when  I  am  more  at  leisure." 

Mr.  Frink  inferred,  from  this  remark,  that  it  was  time  for 
him  to  depart ;  and,  rising  up,  he  said,  "  There 'are  one  or  two 
public  institutions  in  town,  Mr.  Park,  which  it  would  give  me 
pleasure  to  show  you,  if  you  can  find  time  to  visit  them." 

"  I  am  obliged  to  you ;  but  I  expect  to  close  my  business 
31* 


366  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

here  on  to-morrow,  and  thereupon  must  leave  immediately  for 
the  city." 

"  I  hope  we  shall  see  you  out  here  often,  now  that  you  have 
made  our  acquaintance.  We  think  we  have  a  very  beautiful 
town,  and  we  know  that  we  have  some  of  the  solid  men." 

"And  some  of  the  showmen,  too,  from  appearances,"  added 
Park. 

"  They  do  not  belong  to  my  parish.  I  have  taken  such  fre 
quent  opportunity  to  preach  against  the  vanity  of  riches  as  to 
keep  down  the  ostentatious  spirit  among  my  flock." 

"  Then,  I  suppose,  you  find  such  preaching  popular ;  and  I 
have  no  doubt  that,  as  they  have  no  means  for  indulgence,  the 
majority  of  your  hearers  like  to  see  the  more  fortunate  under 
going  the  penalty  of  success." 

Feeling  that  his  secret  motives  were  rather  too  obvious  to 
his  examiner,  (for  no  huckster  in  the  town  coveted  money  or 
the  power  which  it  confers  more  than  he,  so  that  all  he  could 
feel  of  love,  even,  appeared,  from  his  proceedings,  to  be  a  kind 
of  legal  attachment  to  secure  an  estate,)  the  parson  thought  it 
best  to  withdraw  without  further  remark  on  the  subject ;  so 
he  bowed  himself  out  with  a  smile  which  was  meant  to  be 
friendly,  yet  it  spread  out  into  obsequiousness  until  his  face 
appeared  flabby,  if  not  foolish. 

On  leaving  the  hotel,  Mr.  Frink  turned  towards  the  cottage 
to  make  another  call ;  for  he  was  not  slow  of  suspicion,  or 
without  curiosity,  and  sometimes  indulged  in  them  to  an  ex 
cess  which  was  reprehensible.  Arriving  there,  he  gave  quite 
an  emphatic  notice  of  the  event,  as  he  was  a  trifle  peremp 
tory  ;  and  on  Flora  opening  the  door,  he  bowed  slightly,  and 
said,  "  I  am  a  minister  of  the  gospel  in  this  place,  and  thought 
it  my  duty  to  call  upon  you  to  inquire  how  you  felt  with  re 
gard  to  religion." 

So  announcing  himself,   Flora  invited   him   to   walk  in. 

\ 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  367 

Accepting  a  seat,  he  looked  around  a  moment,  as  if  taking  an 
inventory,  whereupon  he  said,  "  You  have  rather  a  snug  place 
here,  madam ;  much  better  than  a  great  many  of  the  lower 
classes  find,  and  such  as  would  make  them  thankful.  Do  you 
think  that  we  are  usually  filled  with  so  lively  a  sense  of  God's 
manifold  blessings  as  is  becoming  such  frail  and  perishing 
creatures  ?  " 

"  I  desire  to  be." 

"  No  doubt,  we  all  do ;  yet  how  make  it  manifest,  unless 
we  attend  divine  service  ?  The  meeting-house  is  the  place  set 
apart  and  dedicated  to  worship ;  and,  short-sighted  as  we  are, 
we  may  see  that  there  can  be  no  offering  if  the  gift  be  not 
laid  upon  the  altar." 

"I  have  heard  the  glad  tidings  that  there  would  come  a 
time  when  every  heart  should  be  an  altar." 

"  Certainly,  it  is  so  written.  But  I  am  an  ordained  inter 
preter  of  that  word,  and  I  say  that  the  time  has  not  yet  come ; 
and  until  it  does  come,  the  meeting-house  is  the  place ;  that  is 
the  peaceful  fold,  aside  from  which  there  is  no  safety,  for  wild 
beasts  rage  without." 

"  It  would  ill  become  me  to  controvert  the  opinion  of  one 
who  has  beervset  apart  to  the  sacred  office.  Yet  I  have  seen 
two  or  three  gathered  together,  in  so  kindly  a  spirit,  as  to 
hallow  the  place  of  their  meeting  —  leading  me  to  the  conclu 
sion  that  it  is  man  who  sanctifies  the  temple,  not  the  temple 
the  man." 

"  You  speak  of  that  meeting,  madam,  with  too  evident  pleas 
ure  to  have  it  stand  to  you  for  merit,  at  your  final  accounting. 
Sorrow  here  is  the  sign  of  joy  hereafter  ;  pleasure  in  this  life 
is  only  the  foreshadowing  of  punishment  beyond  the  grave." 

"  I  fear  that  I  shall  never  be  able  to  comprehend  such  a 
scheme  ;  and  to  hear  it  urged  would  not  help  me  to  find  out 
God,  or  strengthen  my  trust  in  his  divine  providence." 


368  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

"Do  you  wisli  to  be  classed  with  infidels  by  the  whole 
Christian  world  ?  "  inquired  Frink,  while  he  darkly  frowned. 

"  I  see  nothing  in  a  name  capable  of  leading  me  to  do  that 
which  conscience  does  not  call  on  me  to  perform." 

"  Well,  I  have  done  my  duty,"  said  the  parson,  who  in  re 
ality  did  not  wish  her  to  come  to  his  church ;  for  if  she  was 
"  colored,"  as  to  him  she  appeared  to  be,  it  was  extremely 
doubtful  if  his  society  would  allow  her  to  sit  among  them. 
"  But  if  you  choose  so  perilous  a  course  for  yourself,  you  ought 
to  send  your  boy  to  our  Sunday  school,  and  have  him  brought 
up  in  the  way  that  he  should  go." 

"  I  thank  you,  for  I  think  that  he  would  like  it ;  and  it 
would  be  agreeable  to  me  to  have  him  attend ;  indeed,  I  should 
have  sent  him  before  had  it  been  requested." 

"  Then  you  must  have  him  ready  by  nine  o'clock  on  the 
next  Lord's  day,  and  I  will  see  that  some  one  calls  for  him  — 
Miss  Graves,  probably,  as  on  her  way  to  the  school  she  passes 
by  here." 

"  I  will  do  so  with  pleasure,  as  it  relieves  my  mind  from  a 
point  that  has  pressed  upon  it."  And  asking  to  be  excused  a 
moment,  —  as  she  performed  her  own  domestic  duties,  —  she 
passed  out  of  the  room. 

Fred  had  baen  sitting  very  quietly  in  a  little  chair  during 
the  interview,  with  a  small  book  in  his  hand,  the  pictures  of 
which  appeared  to  take  his  attention  ;  yet  he  had  not  failed  to 
note  the  expression  of  his  mother's  and  the  parson's  faces, 
and  draw  his  conclusions.  Turning  to  him,  Mr.  Frink  said, 
"  Charley,  you  are  to  come  to  my  Sunday  school  next  Sab 
bath  morning,  and  we  will  try  to  have  you  know  some 
thing." 

"I  know  something  now,  and  my  name  ain't  Charley, 
neither." 

"  What  do  you  know,  Fred  ?  " 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  369 

"  I  know  my  mother  don't  like  you  ! " 

"  How  do  you  know  that,  saucebox  ?  " 

"  O,  'cause  she  don't  look  as  she  does  when  somebody  else 
is  here." 

"  Who  else  Comes  here  ? "  insinuated  Frink,  sinking  his 
voice. 

"  I  shan't  tell  you,  for  I  don't  like  you  a  bit ! " 

"Do  not  like  me  !  Come  here  and  see  what  a  pretty  thing 
I  have  in  my  pocket ;  "  and  his  voice  was  very  wheedling. 

"  No.     I  don't  want  a  single  thing  you've  got ! " 

Seeing  that  he  could  draw  nothing  more  out  of  the  child, 
the  reverend  inquisitor  drew  up  to  the  centre  table,  and  made 
an  examination  of  Flora's  books.  There  was  not  a  volume 
among  them  but  what  came  from  some  gifted  poet,  or  some 
earnest  and  able  inquirer ;  yet  he  found  Byron,  and  put  on  a 
sanctified  face ;  Carlyle,  and  seemed  touched  with  fears ; 

E ,  and  trembled  with  apprehension ;  P ,  and  grew 

scarlet  with  holy  indignation  !  And  as  Flora  returned  on 
the  moment,  he  said,  "  You  have  some  very  dangerous  books 
here,  madam  !  and  when  I  think  of  the  awful  responsibility 
which  attaches  to  my  sacred  office,  I  must  say  wicked,  ex 
tremely  wicked  books ! " 

"  Indeed  ;  I  was  not  aware  of  it ;  which  of  them  have  that 
reputation  ?  " 

So  called  upon,  the  reverend  censor  named  them  over  with 
decisive  emphasis. 

Whereon  Flora  inquired,  "  Are  you  confident  that  you  are 
quite  just  to  those  authors  ?  " 

"  Yes,  most  certainly  ;  for  I  have  read  every  word  which 
they  have  written  ;  hence  I  know  what  I  am  condemning, 
and  I  say  that  no  person  can  read  them  without  being 
stained  and  corrupted,  or  led  into  fearful,  if  not  fatal,  error 
thereby." 


370  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

"  Have  they  stained  and  corrupted,  or  led  you  into  error  ?  " 

This  was  so  unexpected  a  turn,  that  Frink  glared  at  her, 
while  the  blood  flushed  over  his  face ;  but  at  length  he  said, 
"  With  ministers  of  the-  gospel  it  is  different.  They  expect  to 
make  great  sacrifices,  even  their  lives,  if  need  be,  for  the  sal 
vation  of  souls.  Therefore  they  are  compelled,  as  it  were, 
by  Him  who  appointed  them  to  the  holy  office,  to  examine 
this  food  for  the  mind,  as  the  mother  tastes  of  the  cup  ere  she 
allows  it  to  touch  the  lips  of  her  child." 

"  I  may  not  venture  to  reason  with  one  so  learned ;  yet  it 
seems  to  me  the  principle  on  which  you  would  exclude  those 
works  from  the  people  is  the  same  as  that  which  induces  the 
Catholic  priesthood  to  withhold  the  Bible  from  the  examina 
tion  of  mankind." 

"  No,  madam,  you  are  entirely  wrong :  for  those  which  I 
speak  against  are  bad  books,  while  the  Bible  is  a  perfect  and 
holy  one." 

Seeing  that  he  had  thus  made  an  adroit  escape  out  of  the 
dilemma  in  which  he  had  placed  himself,  by  the  habit  of  loose 
statement  he  had  run  into  from  rarely  hearing  or  heeding  a 
reply,  he  added,  "  This  is  an  enlightened  age,  madam ;  women 
are  presuming  on  an  equality  with  men  ;  but  they  will  find  that 
presumption  is  always  a  long  way  ahead  of  fact,  They  have 
no  colleges  yet ;  and  how  can  they  hope  for  any  thing  great 
until  they  have  the  institutions  of  learning  which  create  it  ? 
I  have  no  intellectual  or  spiritual  graces  that  were  not  the 
growths  or  the  gifts  of  my  alma  mater.  When  can  they  hope 
for  such  an  incomparable  mother  ?  They  may  be  nursed  by 
an  ordinary  one,  some  day  ;  but  when  they  do  we  shall  cease 
to  protect  them,  and  entering  our  field  as  rivals  they  will  learn 
what  life  is.  Now,  we  watch  to  supply  their  every  want  and 
gratify  their  every  desire,  for  we  have  generously  bound  our 
selves  by  law  to  do  it.  If,  however,  they  persist  in  pursuing 


LOYE     AND     LIBERTY.  371 

the  rebellious  course,  they  will  finally  have  to  contend  with  us 
for  every  thing." 

"  You  are  speaking  of  something  to  which  I  have  given  no 
thought ;  but  is  not  your  argument  a  defence  of  slavery  also, 
in  that  it  offers  Protection  as  an  equivalent  for,  or  something 
superior  to,  Right  ?  " 

"  Slavery,  madam  ?  I  denounce  slavery  !  Slavery  is  im 
moral,  and  I  am  a  teacher  of  morals.  No,  madam,  the  la 
borer  is  worthy  of  his  hire ;  if  the  servant  earns  money,  he 
wants  it ;  if  I  earn  money,  I  want  it ;  while  it  grinds  both  him 
and  me,  and  all  who  have  to  toil  as  I  do,  to  see  the  masters 
dashing  out  with  splendid  equipage,  and  rolling  and  revelling 
in  luxury.  And  they  would  do  well  to  remember,  while  it 
should  be  some  consolation  to  all  who  mark  their  ways,  and 
are  free  from  their  sin,  that  Dives  and  Lazarus  exchanged 
circumstances  when  they  changed  worlds.  I  have  denied 
myself  molasses,  madam,  because  it  seems  to  me  so  like  the 
the  blood  of  the  poor  African  ; "  and  again  he  appeared  as 
though  he  waited  to  be  crowned ;  but  as  Flora  did  not  con 
descend  to  do  it,  he  turned  and  departed. 

Immediately  on  reaching  his  bachelor  apartments  he  lighted 
a  choice  cigar,  without  thinking  that  the  leaves  of  the  weed 
resembled  the  negro's  skin,  and  were  the  product  of  his  toil, 
for  he  loved  tobacco  as  well  as  he  ever  did  any  thing ;  in 
deed,  while  inhaling  the  spirit,  and  puffing  off  the  cloud,  he 
had  the  air  and  look  of  a  devotee  in  the  presence  of  his 
idol.  After  the  narcotic  and  poisonous  plant  had  sufficient 
ly  soothed  his  restless  and  craving  nerves,  he  wrote  the  fol 
lowing  answer  to  Bill's  letter :  — 

"  GREENVILLE,  October  — ,  184 — . 

"  Dear  Brother :  I  received  yours  of  the  twenty-fourth  this 
morning,  and  immediately  gave  the  business  into  the  charge 


372  THE     MUSTEE,     OR 

of  a  distinguished  lawyer  belonging  to  the  city,  —  one  being 
providentially  with  us,  —  who  will  give  careful  attention 
to  it. 

"  I  have  just  returned  from  a  kind  of  parochial  call  on  a 
woman  and  child,  who  have  been  living  here  in  a  very  pretty 
vine-clad  cottage  for  some  time,  and  they  closely  coincide 
with  your  description  of  the  runaways.  The  only  difficulties 
in  the  way  which  I  can  see  —  and  I  have  looked  at  the  matter 
sharply  —  are,  they  appear  too  delicate  and  are  too  well  bred 
for  the  class.  But  I  know  nothing  about  the  case,  although 
I  believe  that  the  boy's  name  is  Fred,  and  I  enjoin  that  no 
such  idea  shall  ever  be  intimated,  for  you  will  see  that,  situ 
ated  as  I  am,  I  can  have  none  but  the  most  secret  connection 
with  it. 

"  I  hope  you  did  not  own  the  steamer  that  blew  up  in  the 
pursuit ;  and  I  am  sorry  that  you  got  disfigured  by  the  acci 
dent.  Your  doctor's  bill  must  cut  deep ;  if  you  were  only  a 
clergyman  now,  you  would  escape  without  charge. 

"  Your  grateful  brother, 

"Jos.  FRINK. 

"  William  Frink,  Esq., 

"  New  Orleans." 

In  the  course  of  the  evening  of  that  day,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Frink  called  again  at  Park's  room,  and  said,  "I  took  occa 
sion,  after  I  left  you  this  morning,  to  look  in  at  the  cottage 
of  which  we  were  speaking  last  evening ;  and,  on  close  ex 
amination,  I  am  inclined  to  the  opinion  that  Miss  Graves's 
conclusion  is  nearly  right  with  regard  to  the  negro  blood, 
as  they  appear  to  me  to  be  tainted  with  it ;  and  they  seem 
to  tally  almost  precisely  with  my  brother's  description  of  those 
whom  he  has  lost." 

"  If  they  should  be  identified  as  the  same  persons,  what  do 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  373 

you  propose  to  have  done  ? "  inquired  Park,  with  severe  ac 
cent  and  a  severer  glance. 

"  I  believe  it  pertains  to  your  profession,  rather  than  mine, 
to  answer  that  question,  Mr.  Park,"  replied  Frink,  with  the" 
look  of  a  scared  cur. 

"  Do  you  desire  that  an  arrest  be  made  and  a  trial  had  ?  " 

';  I  do  not  wish  to  have  any  thing  to  say  on  those  points ; 
but  I  can  write  to  my  brother,  and  get  his  instructions." 

"As  that  will  probably  be  his  course,  I  also  wish  to  have 
nothing  to  do  with  the  points.  I  cannot  think  my  profession 
is  under  any  obligation  to  commit  a  crime  against  humanity  if 
it  be  sanctioned  by  statute  ;  while " 

"  O,  no,  no,  certainly  not ! "  cried  the  parson,  interrupting. 

"  While  I  thought  that  it  belonged  to  your  high  calling," 
Park  resumed,  "  to  assuage  sorrow ;  to  let  even  the  prisoner 
go  free,  who  may  be  supposed  to  have  broken  a  law  which 
was  enacted  or  promulgated  for  the  well-being  of  society; 
and  how  imich  more  those  desolated  ones  whom  the  iron  hand 
has  crushed  down  to  the  grade  of  beasts  of  burden !  Do  you 
imagine  yourself  to  be  a  teacher  or  even  a  disciple  of  Him 
who  went  about  doing  good  ?  or  of  that  One  who  struck 
with  death  those  followers  who  gave  only  a  moiety  of  their 
money  to  the  common  charity  —  can  you  believe  that  record 
and  not  tremble  ?  " 

"  Have  I  done  any  thing  wrong  ?  Nothing  was  farther  from 
my  intentions." 

"  No,  O,  no  !  you  are  too  cowardly  to  do  wrong  ;  you  only 
suggest,  you  only  subborn  the  deed." 

"  I  do  not  desire  that  you  should  take  hold  of  the  matter, 
and  I  am  sorry  that  I  spoke  to  you  about  it  at  all ;  which  I 
should  not  have  done,  had  not  my  brother,  to  whom  I  am  un 
der  deep  obligations,  written  me  concerning  it.     I  moved  at 
32 


374  THE    MUSTEE,     OR 

his  suggestion  entirely ;  and  if  you  will  return  me  the  letter 
it  shall  be  destroyed." 

"  Most  willingly  !  But,  if  there  should  be  any  attempt  to 
molest  these  persons,  I  shall  inquire  whose  hand  directed  the 
iniquity.  So  you  will  bear  in  mind  that,  touching  every  por 
tion  of  this  discovery,  I  here  place  a  seal  upon  your  lips,  which 
you  are  forbidden  to  rnar  even  by  a  breath." 

"  I  never  wish  to  speak  of  the  affair  again,  and  I  hope  that 
you  will  not ;  in  fact,  I  believe  you  are  bound,  in  honor,  to  that 
course ;  communications  to  counsel  being  among  the  secret 
things  of  the  law." 

"  Are  you  a  client,  or  only  a  prowling  witness  ?  To  such  I 
shall  make  no  promise  other  than  this :  that  I  hold  you  re-' 
sponsible  for  the  safety  of  those  persons,  against  all  the  arts  of 
the  kidnapping  species." 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Frink  said  no  more ;  but,  placing  the  elegant 
letter  of  his  brother  Bill  in  his  pocket,  took  leave  without 
alluding  to  the  public  institutions  in  the  village,  or  putting  on 
the  smile  of  the  morning. 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  875 


CHAPTER    XXXVIII. 

Who  knows  the  joys  of  friendship  ? 

The  trust,  security,  and  mutual  tenderness,. 

The  double  joys,  where  each  is  glad  for  each  ? 

HOWE. 

THE  bright  season  had  just  glided  by,  in  which  the  hectic 
flush  of  the  forest  foliage  betokens  the  dying  year.  The 
leaves  were  brown  and  sere,  and  went  rustling  down  the 
breeze,  or  crackled  beneath  the  feet ;  their  life  going  out  in  an 
articulate  monition  of  decay,  as  they  joined  the  melancholy 
and  myriad  wrecks  of  summer  beauty. 

It  was  one  of  those  autumn  evenings  when  the  frowning, 
cold,  gray  cloud-bank  hangs  along  the  east,  waiting  for  the 
sun  to  depart  ere  it  climb  up  to  blot  out  the  stars,  and  send 
forth  its  winds  with  whispers  of  winter.  Yet  these  intimations 
of  change,  these  meanings  of  the  desolated  year,  are  lessons  of 
sympathy  which  are  not  all  lost  upon  the  air,  but  help  to 
develop  kindness  and  deepen  friendship,  thus  favoring  the 
growth  and  glory  of  man ;  so  that,  while  the  earth's  pulse  is 
still,  it  would  seem  as  if  the  spirit  of  Nature  turned  in  deeper 
and  quicker  current  to  the  nurture  and  unfolding  of  her  con 
summate  flower. 

Mr.  McRae  had  won  his  case ;  and,  having  thus  completely 
established  his  claim  to  a  large  and  valuable  estate,  many, 
who  had  taken  their  titles  from  others  and  built  upon  the  land, 
were  coming  to  him  to  clear  the  encumbrance  ;  and  being  gen 
erously  dealt  with,  they  were  thankful,  while  he  was  more 
than  usually  serene  and  contented.  Annie,  also,  was  happy 


376  THE    M  U  S  T  E  E  ,     OR 

in  her  father's  smile,  and  rejoiced  in  his  liberality ;  for  her 
heart  was  kind,  so  that  it  overflowed  with  sympathy  towards 
those  who  suffered  by  the  award  of  the  law. 

The  cottage  of  Elery  stood  upon  the  property  which  had 
been  in  dispute,  —  that  being  the  reason  why  it  sold  so  low 
when  he  became  the  purchaser,  although  the  sailor  was  not 
aware  of  it,  —  and  Annie,  fearing  that  the  lady  who  lived 
there  might  hear  of  the  change  to  her  alarm  or  distress  even, 
said  to  her  father,  while  tying  her  bonnet,  "  I  am  going  out  to 
pass  an  hour  or  two  ; "  when,  folding  a  shawl  around  her,  she 
left  him  to  his  evening  newspaper  and  pleasant  musings. 

It  was  but  a  few  moments  after,  that  she  passed  through  the 
cottage  gate,  and,  upon  her  summons,  Flora  opened  the  door. 
Seeing,  by  the  light  shining  from  the  sitting  room,  that  it 
was  a  young  lady  who  stood  before  her,  she  said,  "  Will  you 
walk  in  ?  " 

"  I  thank  you  ;  it  would  give  me  pleasure ; "  and,  following 
her  to  the  room,  she  found  a  cheerful  fire  on  the  hearth,  which 
sang  down  the  moan  of  the  winds,  and  seemed  to  greet  her 
with  warm  and  inviting  smiles.  There  was  something  in  the 
tone  of  the  reply  to  the  invitation  which  touched  the  heart 
of  Flora,  and  called  forth  her  sweetest  expression.  Observ 
ing  this,  Annie  added,  while  taking  the  proffered  seat,  "  I  came 
in  to  see  if  we  can  be  friends  —  may  I  take  off  my  bonnet  ?  " 

Flora's  eyes  filled  with  tears,  for  Annie's  face  was  so  full  of 
tender  and  entreating  interrogation,  that  it  more  completely 
opened  her  heart  than  is  common  to  the  longest  course  of  trust 
and  confidence ;  and  she  replied,  "  You  have,  indeed,  taken 
me  by  surprise  ;  for  I  did  not  dream  that  what  I  most  needed 
was  so  near.  A  stranger  in  a  strange  land  can  hardly  hope 
for  that  which  is  usually  the  slow  growth  of  many  years ;  and 
yet  you  lead  me  to  believe  in  its  possibility." 

"  Then   let  us  accept  the  opportunity  by  trusting  at  once 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  377 

with  that  unreserve  which  becomes  those  who  have  faith  in 
friendship.  For  I,  too,  need  a  friend ;  as  there  come  to  my 
mind  ideas,  hopes,  and  aspirations  which  I  cannot  reveal  to 
my  father,  —  although  he  studies  to  make  home  dear  and  lif£ 
delightful  to  me,  —  yet  I  long  to  breathe  them  to  some  one  who 
will  receive  them  with  tenderest  sympathy.  Have  you  never 
experienced  such  feelings  and  emotions  ?  " 

So  agitated  and  quickened  to  confession,  Flora  said,  "  My 
life  has  been  one  of  great  vicissitude.  I  have  seen  some  of 
the  darkest  as  well  as  some  of  the  brightest  days  that  ever 
blackened  or  illumined  the  path  of  mortal.  I  have  been  cast 
down,  —  so  it  seems  to  me  now,  —  only  to  make  my  deliver 
ance  the  more  glorious  ;  while  impressing  on  my  heart  the 
infinite  tenderness  and  the  sustaining  power  of  Him  who 
leads  us. 

"  I  was  tenderly  nurtured  by  parents  who  were  united  by 
the  ties  of  love  ;  and,  amid  all  the  appliances  of  wealth,  I  was 
exalted  by  education  to  an  acquaintance  with  the  works  of  the 
great  masters  of  thought.  Yet  thereupon  I  sank  beneath  a 
tyranny  which  made  its  first  advances  in  whispers  of  affec 
tion,  until  I  was  not  only  sold  as  a  slave,  but  '  bowled  down 
the  hill  of  heaven  as  low  as  to  the  fiends.'  Then  my  deliv 
erer  came  ;  and  such  a  deliverer  !  I  had  seen  kindness  be 
fore  ;  I  had  heard  and  read  of  sublime  devotion,  stars  of  glory 
all ;  yet  this  was  as  the  sun  in  the  heavens.  I  cannot,  even 
now,  make  it  other  than  seeming.  I  try  to  tread  back  on  my 
own  steps,  when  it  appears  to  be  some  romantic  and  wonderful 
path,  enchanted  and  brought  down  to  earth  by  the  gorgeous 
imagination  of  genius." 

Thrilled  to  silence,  Annie  at  length  said,  "  We  do,  indeed, 
sometimes  read  of  such  exalted  action  ;  but  it  must  be  the 
height  of  life  to  have  so  realized  it  in  the  devotion  of  one." 

There  were  more.  One,  certainly,  was  preeminent ;  still, 
32* 


378  THE    MUSTEE,     OR 

many  were  deeply  devoted  with  their  great  hearts  and  hands 
as  open  as  the  day  even  to  their  own  destitution  !  and  not 
only  for  the  occasion,  for  a  week,  a  month,  but  even  to  this 
hour  and  beyond  ;  so  that  I  taste  it  in  my  daily  food,  yes,  in 
the  air  I  breathe  —  for  I  had  ceased  to  breathe,  and  they  re 
stored  me." 

"  You  will  not  pause  there :  such  glimpses  only  make  me 
more  impatient  for  your  story ;  so  that  I  may  venture  along 
the  course,  to  see  if  it  were  possible  for  me  to  rise  up  as  you 
have  done  :  truly  the  difficult  way  is  always  the  noblest ;  and 
dangers  bravely  met  crown  the  brow  once  and  forever." 

At  this  point,  Fred  came  timidly  up  to  Annie,  and  put  his 
hand  softly  in  hers.  She  looked  down  on  his  sweet,  upturned 
face,  and,  perceiving  his  desire,  took  him  into  her  lap,  accepted 
his  kiss,  and  so  tenderly  returned  it  that  he  nestled  near  her, 
yet  still  kept  his  eyes  fixed  on  hers  :  while  encircling  him  with 
a  gentle  arm,  she  gave  ear  to  the  narrative  of  the  mustee, 
in  which  she  comprehended  all,  excepting  names,  from  her 
school  days  with  the  Sisters  of  Charity  to  the  hour  when  she 
arrived  in  the  village  where  she  was  speaking. 

Annie  listened  with  lively  sympathy,  with  tears,  and  with 
silence  ;  and  when  the  fugitive  made  a  close  of  the  tale,  their 
eyes  met,  beaming  with  deep  trust,  but  thrilling  agitation  ;  for 
the  sea  heaves  high  long  after  the  storm  has  subsided.  Si 
lently  clasping  hands,  they  sat  until  calmness  came,  with  smiles 
and  words  in  the  soft,  low  tones  of  returning  serenity;  on 
which  Annie  said,  "I  hope  that  you  will  continue  to  live 
among  us." 

u  I  desire  to ;  yet  it  is  all  uncertain,  as  rny  home  here  hangs 
on  one  life,  which  the  sea  is  liable  to  take  any  hour,  and  may 
have  taken  ere  this." 

"  I  trust  in  brighter  hopes  ;  but  if  any  change  threaten,  if 
any  trouble  come,  will  you  confide  in  me,  that  I  may  share  the 
pain  ?  " 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  379 

Flora  pressed  Annie's  hand,  and  replied,  "  My  heart  opens 
to  your  touch  as  if  you  possessed  a  charm  by  which  to 
enter  it." 

"  Then  you  must  give  me  room  there ;  and  what  is  mine 
shall  be  thine,  and  that  which  is  thine  shall  be  mine ;  and  if, 
perchance,  this  door  should  close  against  you,  my  father's 
house  will  open  to  you  and  this  little  boy  as  freely  as  to 
me  ;  or  if,  by  any  vicissitude,  we  become  poor,  we  can  take  a 
school  together,  and  win  that  independence  which  we  now 
enjoy  as  a  favor." 

Fred  having  sunk  to  sleep  in  Annie's  arms,  Flora  took  him, 
without  awaking,  to  his  place  of  rest.  On  her  return,  Annie 
said,  "  You  have  not  told  me  where  your  deliverer  is,  or  even 
how  old  he  is." 

"  I  do  not  know  his  age,"  Flora  replied,  smiling ;  "  in  truth, 
I  have  never  thought  of  it  before ;  but  he  cannot  be  much 
older  than  I  am ;  and  he  is  on  the  way  from  Europe." 

"  Do  you  expect  to  see  him  when  he  arrives  ?  " 

"  Soon  after,  I  have  no  doubt." 

"  I  hope  he  will  not  remain  long,  to  keep  me  away  from 
you  ;  for  I  found  you,  and  you  are  mine." 

"  But  he  found  me  first,  and  may  set  up  the  claim  of  pri 
ority." 

"  Well,  he  shall  not  have  you  if  I  can  help  it." 

"  I  do  not  think  that  he  will  contend  with  you  ;  but,  on  the 
contrary,  I  believe  that  he  would  like  to  see  you,  and  I  wish 
him  to  do  so  very  much." 

"  I  am  not  quite  certain  that  I  desire  to  see  him,  for  he  is 
a  hero;  and  they  generally  expect  so  much  deference,  so 
much  worship,  even,  that  they  harden  me  into  brass." 

"  It  is  not  so  with  the  hero  of  my  story  ;  he  humbles  him 
self  even  to  me,  and  disparages  his  deeds  so  that  they  may 
appear  of  a  less  shining  order.  He  insists  that  he  is  the  great 


380  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

gainer,  in  that  it  has  given  sobriety  to  his  thoughts,  and  eleva 
tion  to  his  life.  Yet,  at  first,  I  suspected  that  it  was  only  said 
to  lift  from  me  some  weight  of  obligation  ;  but,  on  perceiving 
my  idea,  he  bore  it  away  as  the  flood  bears  whatever  resists 
its  sweep.  I  had,  indeed,  many  times  heard  and  read  of  the 
generosity  of  sailors  ;  and  I  found  them  all  and  more  than  I 
had  been  led  to  believe.  Still  I  cannot  help  thinking  that  the 
crew  of  the  Muse,  with  regard  to  me,  caught  something  of 
their  self-devoting  spirit  from  the  chivalry  of  their  leader ;  as 
in  the  most  memorable  actions  it  is  always  the  case,  so  that 
Leonidas  appears  to  be  alone  in  Thermopylae,  and  the  sin 
gle  arm  of  Paul  Jones  seems  to  conquer  the  Serapis. 

"  Then,  how  dark  it  was  —  and  what  light  flows  over  me 
now  !  I  seem  to  have  been  driven  out  to  pass  from  conflict 
to  triumph.  Even  the  fierce  voices  of  the  dogs  grow  mellow 
and  musical  as  they  recede ;  and  the  thunder  crash  that  closed 
all  reverberates  in  the  distance  like  a  morning  gun  which 
ushers  in  the  day  of  freedom.  Then  came  my  first  view  of 
the  ocean,  and  a  ship  in  her  glory ;  and  I  was  spell-bound 
when  I  saw  her  casting  great  gems  of  sapphire  from  her,  as 
though  she  spurned  the  gifts  that  would  delay  her  flight.  I 
even  fancied,  as  I  observed  and  was  swayed  by  the  motion  of 
her  career,  that  she  had  feeling  for  me,  and  flew  on  rejoicing 
that  she  was  free,  as  well  as  the  instrument  of  freedom.  Not 
Columbus,  when  he  bore  home  the  offering  of  a  new  world, 
felt  his  heart  more  elate  than  was  mine.  The  summer  winds 
caressed  me,  the  foam  leaped  up  and  kissed  me." 

"  How  differently  trouble  appears  when  it  has  passed ! " 
Annie  remarked  ;  "  and  how  danger  changes  its  aspect  when 
we  look  back  upon  its  torn  banner  and  trampled  form !  how 
it  consecrates  the  life  that  we  have  lived,  and  arms  us  for  the 
conflicts  which  may  come  !  I  desire  never  to  forget  that  the 
fire  which  burns,  is,  at  the  same  moment,  testing  and  purifying, 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  381 

as  the  darkness  that  broods  over  many  a  human  path  is  there 
only  to  form  the  background  of  a  hero's  picture." 

Soon  after,  they  rose  up,  and,  standing  near,  they  appeared 
of  the  same  height,  and  strikingly  alike  in  form,  which  they 
noticed  with  smiles  and  kindly  words  ;  and  as  they  walked, 
with  their  arms  intertwined,  their  motions  seemed  the  same. 

So  crossing  and  recrossing  the  room,  Annie,  at  length,  said, 
"  I  came  here,  this  evening,  to  see  if  I  might  do  you  a  favor, 
or  be  of  service  in  any  way  ;  and  lo  !  you  have  given  me  the 
story  of  an  Olympic  struggle,  with  a  triumph  such  as  no 
wreathed  Grecian  has  won !  laid  open  before  me  a  volume  of 
inspiring  life  for  which  I  must  ever  remain  a  debtor  !  —  and  is 
there  no  opportunity  to  make  some  poor  return  ?  " 

"  Have  you  not  given  me  such  friendship  as  to  melt  my 
heart  and  pour  it  into  yours  ?  so  that  I  have  no  words  to  say 
how  dear  you  have  grown  to  me,  Annie,  (if  you  will  allow  me 
to  call  you  so  ;)  and  whenever,  hereafter,  it  may  please  you  to 
pass  within  my  gate, 

« There  is  an  eye  will  mark 
Your  coming,  and  look  brighter  when  you  come.' ' 

They  continued  walking  without  further  speech,  for  their 
mutual  understanding  appeared  to  be  complete  ;  and  when  it 
is,  presence  satisfies,  a  touch  can  heal,  and  glances  are  revela 
tions.  Under  the  influence  of  friendship,  for  so  brief  a  time, 
the  cottage  had  changed  from  a  quiet  and  secure,  into  a  charm 
ing  nook,  where  these  two,  together  twined,  seemed  like  the 
bright  rings  of  some  eddy  wreathing  and  circling  there,  away 
from  the  surging  current  of  life.  As  they  thus  moved  through 
the  silence,  they  heard  approaching  feet,  then  the  bell ;  and, 
while  advancing  to  the  door  as  they  had  walked,  the  latch  was 
raised,  and  the  sailor  entered  —  entered  with  kind  words  and 
a  cordial  "reeting. 


382  THE    MUSTEE,    OB 

Passing  on  to  the  lighted  room,  Flora  said,  "  This  is  my 
friend  Annie,  Captain  Elery ;  and  she  has  borne  the  relation 
so  long  that  she  knows  all  about  me,  and  thinks  she  has 
learned  much  of  you." 

"You  must  be  cautious,  Captain  Elery,"  said  Annie,  smiling, 
"  how  you  believe  in  the  picture,  as  she  colors  skilfully." 

"  Yes,  I  will  be  on  my  guard ;  and  I  owe  her  a  little  in 
credulity,  for  she  was  a  stubborn  doubter,  even  of  me." 

"  You  may  forgive  her  that,  for  she  believes  in  you  now, 
heart  and  soul." 

In  the  first  tones  and  glances  of  these  freshly-meeting  na 
tures  Flora  caught  their  fine  accord.  Instinctively  she  felt 
that  some  divine  influence  was  mingling  the  subtler  elements 
of  a  new  creation,  and,  foreseeing  the  Paradise,  on  the  moment 
she  closed  whatever  of  dream  her  own  heart  may  have  been 
indulging,  and  resolved  at  once  to  become  its  devoted  guar 
dian.  Full  of  this  generous  purpose  she  quickly  replied, 
"  That  is  true,  Annie,  for  my  confidence  is  entire,  like  that  of 
a  sister's,  and  I  trust  that  I  shall  be  found  equal  to  a  sister's 
devotion.  Indeed,  that  is  my  relation,  by  virtue  of  which  I 
am  mistress  of  this  house  and  do  the  honors ;  so  that  if  you 
will  have  the  kindness  to  be  seated,  and  inform  me  what  re 
freshment  you  would  prefer,  I  will  try  to  procure  it." 

As  she  had  directed  her  closing  sentence  to  Elery,  he  re 
plied,  "  Fruit  is  usually  my  first  thought  when  I  reach  shore. 
Have  ycu  any?" 

"  Yes,  and  some  which  grew  on  your  own  plantation,  and 
for  that  reason  will  have  a  sweeter  taste." 

Thereupon  she  brought  out  both  pears  and  peaches ;  and, 
placing  them  before  her  guests,  she  said,  "  The  pears  I  think 
you  will  approve  ;  and  if  the  peaches  are  not  what  they  were 
at  the  time  when  I  gathered  them,  you  may  reproach  yourself, 
for  they  have  been  waiting  and  pining  for  some  one." 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  383 

Annie  helped  herself,  saying,  "I  believe  that  I  am  fairly 
entitled  to  a  part  of  these,  as  my  father  has  a  claim  on  the 
land  where  they  grew." 

"  Is  this  Miss  McRae  ? "  inquired  Elery.  And  gathering 
his  answer  from  her  smile  and  arch  expression,  he  continued, 
"  I  heard  before  I  came  out  of  the  city,  that  the  case  had  gone 
in  your  father's  favor ;  do  you  imagine  he'll  bear  down  very 
hard  on  me  ?  " 

"  I  fancy  he  may,  if  I  tell  him  how  luscious  the  pears  are, 
and  how  long  the  peaches  keep." 

"  But  will  you  take  such  unkind  advantage  of  the  evidence 
which  we  have  furnished  against  ourselves  ?  " 

On  this  Annie  took  one  of  the  largest  of  the  pears  from  the 
dish,  saying,  "  I  will  take  this  home  to  him,  that  he  may  taste 
and  be  able  to  judge  of  their  value." 

Touched  with  her  humor,  Elery  selected  another,  which 
was  more  perfect,  and,  handing  it  to  Annie,  said,  "  Take  this 
one  to  your  father,  also  ;  and  say,  when  you  present  it,  —  if 
you  will  do  me  the  favor,  — -  that  Frank  Elery  intends  to  call 
upon  him,  some  time  in  the  course  of  a  week,  for  the  purpose 
of  perfecting  his  title  to  the  cottage." 

"  It  may  be  more  for  your  interest  to  choose  a  small  and 
hard  one  to  send  him,  as  I  think  that  you  will  be  surprised 
when  you  learn  the  terms  of  settlement." 

"  Perhaps  so  ;  but  I  purchased  the  estate  at  a  low  price, 
and  you  may  say  to  him  that  the  more  a  thing  costs  the  higher 
some  people  value  it." 

"  If  that  be  your  method  of  estimation,  we  will  try  to  have 
you  hold  this  place  in  particular  regard."  And,  rising  up, 
she  proceeded  to  arrange  her  shawl  and  bonnet,  saying,  "  I 
suppose  my  father  is  listening  for  my  step ;  so,  my  friend," 
(here  she  took  Flora's  hand,)  "  I  must  leave  you  now." 

"  May  I  hope  to  see  you  again  to-morrow  ? "  inquired  Flora. 


384  THE     MUSTEE,    OR 

"I  know  not  how  to  refuse."  And,  turning  to  the  captain, 
she  added,  "  Then  we  ar*e  to  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you 
at  our  house  soon,  I  think  you  promised." 

"  Yes,  very  soon  ;  if  you  will  allow  me  to  act  as  convoy  ; " 
when,  taking  his  hat,  they  passed  out  together.  As  they 
moved  up  the  street,  he  said,  "  The  pleasure  of  this  evening 
has  been  beyond  my  anticipation,  and  chiefly  because  I  saw 
that  Flora  had  found  a  friend  in  you." 

"  I  am  sad  with  thinking  how  much  more  I  have  found 
than  I  can  give,"  Annie  replied.  "  She  is  a  treasure  ;  and  I 
thank  you  from  my  heart  for  bringing  her  so  near  me." 

"  You  cannot  be  more  pleased  with  her  than  she  appears  to 
be  with  you,  or  than  I  am  in  finding  that  she  has  so  fully  con 
fided  in  you." 

"  I  admire  her  ;  for  she  is  at  once  a  mirror  and  a  picture  ; 
now  revealing  my  own  hidden  features,  and  now  charming  me 
with  the  depth  and  meaning  of  her  own.  Then,  too,  what  a 
history  is  hers !  Indeed,  you  did  generously,  you  did  nobly, 
in  so  rescuing  her ;  and  I  honor  the  sailors,  every  one,  for 
their  continuing  kindness  and  devotion.  I  long  to  see  the 
ship  even  that  bore  her  so  gallantly  away  ;  for  she  speaks  of 
her  as  a  thing  endued  with  life  and  capable  of  feeling." 

"  The  Muse  is  all  that  she  gives  her  out  to  be  ;  but  you 
must  be  cautious  with  regard  to  her  praise  of  us,  for  we  could 
have  done  no  less ;  it  did  not  rise  above  the  line  of  duty." 

"  It  may  be  so ;  for,  with  the  noble,  duty  is  a  sublime 
height ;  it  was  all  that  Nelson  asked,  when  he  gave  his  last 
signal  to  the  breeze,  for  he  knew  that  it  would  call  forth  the 
utmost  strength  of  the  sailor's  arm  and  heart," 

"  To  have  done  well,  even  in  one  thing,  will  rift  the  clouds 
so  that  hope  may  shine  on  the  storm  which  wrecks  us. 
Would  that  I  had  had  many  such  favorable  opportunities,  that 
I  might  feel  more  worthy  of  your  commendation." 


LOVE     AND    LIBERTY.  385 

"  You  must  not  deny  or  disparage  your  deeds,  or  I  shall 
persuade  Flora  to  let  me  proclaim  their  excellence." 

"  I  object  to  that ;  and  your  generous  praise  is  equal  to  my 
ambition,  while  it  gives  me  new  motive  for  exertion." 

Having  reached  her  father's  door,  they  soon  separated  with 
mutual  esteem  and  a  kind  good  night. 

Returning  to  the  cottage  the  sailor  found  Flora  seated  by 
the  bright  blaze  of  the  replenished  fire,  with  a  large  easy 
chair  near  her,  evidently  placed  there  for  one  expected.  Ac 
cepting  it  without  ceremony,  he  said,  "  I  am  very  glad  to  see 
you  looking  so  well ;  for  in  thinking  of  you  I  feared  that  you 
might  have  found  life  here  not  quite  as  you  had  hoped.  Yet 
if  I  could  have  known  that  you  had  won  such  a  friend  as  Miss 
McRae,  the  gloom  which  seemed  to  surround  your  abode 
would  have  melted  in  sunshine." 

"  She  is  truly  a  lovely  person,"  Flora  replied  ;  "  and  pos 
sesses  one  of  those  natures  which  make  us  feel,  at  the  first 
meeting,  that  we  have  known  them  long  —  so  quick  of  sym 
pathy  are  nearly  related  souls." 

"I  hope  to  meet  her  here  often.  I  should  have  known 
from  your  appearance  that  you  had  found  something  valuable 
during  my  absence,  and  I  wish  you  to  enjoy  it.  Indeed,  there 
is  nothing  more  pleasing  to  me  than  the  friendship  of  thought 
ful  women  ;  men  do  not  so  trust  each  other  —  only  a  woman 
can  twine  thoroughly  into  their  confidence." 

"  Yes,  in  friendship  as  in  religion  we  must  give  all ;  to  keep 
back  a  part  of  the  price  is  as  fatal  to  one  as  to  the  other." 

"  I  know  that  any  reserve  springs  from  just  so  much  lack 
of  affinity.  But  how  is  Fred  ?  " 

"  Dreaming  sweetly,  I  have  no  doubt,  as  he  fell  asleep  in 
Annie's  arms." 

"  You  must  take  him  into  the  city  while  we  are  in  port,  and 
see  your  friends  on  board  of  the  Muse." 
33 


386 

"  It  would  give  me  a  great  satisfaction  to  do  so,  and  Fred 
would  be  delighted." 

"If  you  thought  she  would  like  it,  you  might  ask  Miss 
McRae  to  accompany  you  ;  and,  should  she  incline  to  go,  you 
can  take  the  cars  some  afternoon  —  only  let  us  know  of  it  the 
day  before." 

"  I  fancy  that  she  will  be  pleased  with  the  idea.  And  now 
I  want  to  hear  something  of  my  old  acquaintance  the  ocean, 
and  my  friends  the  sailors." 

"  The  men  are  much  as  you  left  them ;  they  kindly  remem 
ber  you,  and  that  memory  has  greatly  contributed  to  the  suc 
cess  of  the  voyage  ^  and  the  sea  is  the  same  dark-frowning, 
bright-glancing,  storm-tossing,  or  tenderly-caressing  creature 
as  ever,  I  suppose,  yet  she  awakens  recollections  now  that  give 
her  a  new  grace,  as  they  touch  life  with  fairer  and  more  at 
tractive  hues,  or  unseal  and  elevate  my  vision  to  behold  them." 

Flora's  tearful  smile  was  a  confession  that  she  could  not 
gainsay  his  words,  for  she  saw  that  his  glance  was  clearer,  his 
bearing  higher,  and  his  manner  more  refined  and  equal ;  he 
was,  indeed,  receiving  his  reward. 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  387 


CHAPTER    XXXIX. 

You  have  seen 

Sunshine  and  rain  at  once ;  those  happy  smiles 
That  played  on  her  ripe  lips  seemed  not  to  know 
What  guests  were  in  her  eyes. 

SHAKSPEARE. 

AT  the  request  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Frink,  Miss  Graves  called 
at  the  cottage  to  take  Fred  to  the  Sunday  school. 

Flora  had  made  her  child  ready  early,  for  he  felt  much 
pleased  with  the  idea  of  going,  as  he  had  watched  the  prettily 
dressed  children  on  many  previous  Sabbath  mornings  while 
they  passed  by,  and  wished  to  join  them  in  their  pleasant 
walk ;  so  that,  although  he  did  not  like  the  appearance  of 
Miss  Graves,  he  kissed  his  mother,  and  looked  back  with  a 
proud  smile  as  he  took  the  teacher's  hand  at  the  gate. 

If  Fred  was  an  object  of  curiosity  to  those  who  observed 
him  on  the  way,  he  became  much  more  so  when  he  entered 
the  school  room,  as  most  of  the  teachers  and  many  of  the  older 
scholars  had  heard  the  doubt  touching  the  purity  and  conse 
quent  respectability  of  his  blood. 

But  the  child  shrank  from  their  prying  gaze,  and  seeing 
no  friendly  face  among  them  all,  he  began  to  cry ;  on  which 
they  turned  away  to  their  respective  classes.  Yet  one  fair 
girl,  near  his  own  age,  who  sat  beside  him,  was  touched  with 
pity,  and  gently  took  his  hand  in  hers ;  and,  as  he  looked  up, 
smiling  through  his  tears,  kissed  him,  and  whispered,  "  Don't 
you  cry." 

Upon  this,  the  mob  having  dispersed,  Fred  dried  his  eyes ; 


THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

and  the  rest  of  the  hour  wore  quietly  away,  while  many  a 
timid  yet  sweet  glance  played  between  the  children  —  a  heaven 
sent  lesson  for  the  morning.  When  the  school  was  over,  Miss 
Graves  permitted  the  friendly  girl  to  conduct  Fred  home,  as 
she,  with  her  gossips,  had  come  to  the  conclusion  that  his 
blood  showed  the  servile  taint ;  and  she  feared  that  she  might 
lose  caste  herself  if  seen  with  him  any  more  ;  for  society  in 
Greenville  was  fastidious  on  the  point  of  color,  a  cloud  on  the 
skin  being  worse  than  one  on  the  reputation,  inasmuch  as  it  is 
more  difficult  to  hide. 

As  the  children  went  out,  they  locked  hands  and  walked 
along  the  street  looking  at  objects,  about  which  they  talked  so 
musically  that  a  Scotch  terrier,  that  lay  sunning  himself  at 
Annie's  door,  sprang  up  with  sympathizing  eyes,  and  came 
frisking  playfully  around  them,  as  if  desiring  to  share  their 
happiness.  Thus  they  went  on  until  they  had  nearly  reached 
the  cottage,  when  they  met  a  brother  of  the  little  girl,  a  boy 
about  twelve  years  old,  who  said,  hotly,  "  Let  go  my  sister's 
hand,  you  young  nigger,  you  !  you're  a  smart  darkie  !  trying  to 
play  white  folks,  be  ye  ?  Scat !  "  and  giving  his  sister  a  cuff, 
she  fled  towards  home,  crying.  On  this  the  dog  grabbed  him 
by  the  seat  of  his  trousers,  and  took  most  of  it  with  him  up 
the  street ;  while  Fred  darted  into  the  house,  as  he  would  not 
have  done  had  he  been  any  where  near  the  young  ruffian's 
size  and  age. 

Flora  was  taken  by  surprise  at  his  sudden  appearance,  be 
cause  she  had  supposed  the  teacher  would  keep  him  through 
the  morning  worship  ;  she  saw,  also,  that  he  was  flushed  and 
seemed  angry.  So  kneeling  down  before  him;  she  untied  his 
hat,  and,  while  smoothing  back  his  locks,  inquired,  "  What  is 
the  matter  with  my  little  boy  ?  " 

"  Nothing ! "  yet  instantly  he  inquired,  "  Mother,  what  is 
nigger  ?  " 


LOVE     AND    LIBERTY.  389 

"  It  means  dark  colored,  or  black." 

"  It  don't !  I  know  it  don't !  and  I  never'll  go  to  that  old 
school  again,  you  see'f  I  do  ! " 

"  My  child,  has  any  one  applied  that  word  to  you  ?  " 

"  Yes  !  and  I  know  who  he  is,  and  I'll  fling  a  stone  at  him 
the  next  time  he  comes  by  here,  y6u  see  if  I  don't ! " 

"  My  dear  little  boy  will  be  wicked  if  he  does  that." 

"  Then  I  want  to  be  wicked !  and  I  will  be  when  I'm  big 
enough  !  "When  shall  I  be  big  enough,  mother  ?  " 

Flora  made  no  further  reply,  but,  taking  him  into  her  lap, 
soothed  him  with  caresses ;  and,  in  a  little  time,  he  became  as 
bright  and  playful  as  ever ;  yet  the  battle  of  his  life  had  com 
menced  in  that  morning's  skirmish. 

In  the  evening,  Annie  called ;  and,  receiving  cordial  wel 
come  from  Flora,  Fred  came  to  bask  in  her  smile,  as  the  lilies 
in  the  pond  open  their  fragrant  bosoms  to  the  morning  sun. 
Taking  him  in  her  arms,  the  adventure  of  the  school  all  flowed 
out  under  her  tender  questioning.  Whereupon  she  said, 
"  You  must  never  go  there  again,  but  come  to  me  ;  and  I  will 
try  to  teach  you  lessons  more  in  keeping  with  the  spirit  of 
Christ.  Love  and  Devotion  are  his  apostles  :  relying  on  their 
aid,  I  hope  to  lead  you  kindly  and  gently  in  the  way  of  learn 
ing,  so  that  you  will  like  to  study,  and,  may  be,  love  your 
teacher." 

"  I'll  do  any  thing  you  want  me  to  when  I've  flung  a  stone 
at  that  boy." 

"  He  is  quite  too  mean  for  you  to  notice." 

"  Is  he  ?  "  inquired  Fred,  rousing  up  to  a  new  view. 

"  Yes,  indeed  he  is  !  and  I,  certainly,  will  not  notice  him 
until  he  says  that  he  is  sorry  for  what  he  said  to  you." 

"  Then  I  won't!  'cause  I  want  to  do  just  like  you  do." 

"  I  believe  that  you  are  entitled  to  be  his  teacher,"  Flora 
33* 


390  THE    MUSTEE,     OR 

smilingly  remarked,  "as  your  method  appears  to  be  very 
successful." 

"  He  felt  that  he  had  been  unjustly  treated,  so  much  so  that 
to  deny  him  any  redress  was  still  deeper  to  wrong  him.  I 
have  pointed  out  what  seems  to  me  a  better  way  of  recovering 
his  self-respect  —  which  an  impelling  necessity  urges  and 
goads  us  to  regain." 

"  But  are  you  not  cultivating  pride  when  you  give  him  the 
impression  that  this  boy  is  beneath  his  attention  ?  " 

"  The  sooner  he  learns  that  generous  actions  elevate,  and 
that  mean  ones  degrade  him,  the  better  it  will  be  for  him  and 
for  society.  I  know  how  you  yearn  after  equality  under  the 
law,  and  since  I  listened  to  your  story  I  desire  it  exceed 
ingly.  Yet  so  long  as  nobleness  and  meanness  of  purpose 
coexist,  so  long  there  will  continue  to  be  a  higher  and  a  lower, 
by  divine  sanction.  Who  went  with  Fred  to  Sunday  school  ?  " 

"  A  lady  called  for  him,  whose  name  I  do  not  know  ;  but  the 
same  person,  some  days  since,  met  me  in  one  of  the  shops,  and 
invited  me  to  join  a  sewing  circle." 

"Then  it  must  have  been  Miss  Graves." 

"  There  was  another  person  with  the  one  I  allude  to  at  that 
time,  —  she  wore  a  diamond  cross,  which  attracted  my  at 
tention." 

"  That  was  Mrs.  Featherstone,  a  lady  from  the  city  ;  she  is 
an  old  friend  of  mine,  and  once  very  lovely ;  but  now  greatly 
changed,  and  I  fear  by  marriage  ;  for  she  united  herself  to  a 
man  who  appeared  to  me  to  be  repulsive,  although  many 
called  him  handsome." 

"  Poor  creature,  I  pity  her  from  my  heart.  Indeed,  I  felt, 
the  moment  that  I  looked  into  her  face,  that  there  was  some 
thing  preying  upon  her,  and  now  I  can  see  the  vulture." 

As  the  hour  of  leave-taking  came  round,  and  Annie  arose 
for  that  purpose,  Flora  said,  "  I  think  of  going  into  the  city, 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  391 

and  on  board  of  the  Muse,  some  afternoon  this  week:  have 
you  any  desire  to  go  with  me  ?  " 

"  I  should  like  to  see  the  ship  very  much ;  yet  I  am  afraid 
that  I  might  be  an  unexpected  guest." 

"  I  will  promise  that  you  shall  be  a  welcome  one,  if  it  be 
your  pleasure  to  accompany  us." 

"  On  what  day  do  you  think  of  making  the  excursion  ?" 

"  You  may  suit  yourself  in  any  day  after  to-morrow." 

"  Tuesday,  if  it  be  fair,  will  please  me,  as  it  is  the  next 
one,"  said  Annie,  smiling.  Thus  the  friends  parted  without 
separating ;  for  each  had  become  a  shrined  presence  to  the 
other,  filling  the  once  lonely  hours  with  soft,  sweet  music, 
making  the  cares  of  the  day  cheerful,  and  attuning  to  fullest 
harmony  the  evening  hours. 

When  the  friends  went  into  the  city  and  down  to  the  Muse, 
they  were  met,  at  the  carriage  steps,  by  one  who  was  on  the 
watch  for  them ;  and  leading  the  way  directly  to  the  cabin, 
Flora  followed  to  the  door  and  preceded  him  down. 

But  a  ship  being  a  new  sight  to  Annie,  she  paused  to  look 
at  the  long  and  polished  deck,  the  shining  capstan,  and  then 
aloft  to  her  tall  and  tapering  spars,  with  their  intricate  cordage, 
so  sinewy  and  symmetrical ;  but,  at  length,  yielding  to  Flora's 
repeated  call,  she  went  down  ;  not,  however,  without  observing 
the  home  feeling  which  seemed  to  animate  Fred. 

As  he  came  on  board,  he  ran  aft  to  take  hold  of  the  wheel 
and  strain  at  the  spokes  to  port  the  helm ;  but  as  it  was  hard 
to  the  larboard,  he  found  it  difficult  to  move.  Yet,  feeling 
that  Annie's  eyes  were  upon  him,  he  looked  it  over  know 
ingly,  for  a  moment,  then  turned  to  make  an  examination  of 
the  hencoop  ;  but  finding  it  empty,  he  cast  a  glance  aloft, 
took  hold  of  some  of  the  halliards  quite  familiarly,  and  gayly 
skipping  forward,  disappeared  in  the  top-gallant  forecastle. 

When  Annie  went  below,  Flora  showed  her  the  beautiful 


392  THE     MUSTEK,    OR 

home  that  she  once  dwelt  in ;  and  observing  the  hat  which 
she  had  worn  still  hanging  where  she  had  left  it,  and  remark 
ing  upon  it,  the  captain  replied,  "  You  were  the  last  occupant 
of  the  room,  and  Francis  chooses  to  keep  the  things  as  you 
arranged  them.  The  sailors,  also,  look  upon  it  as  a  kind  of 
shrine ;  and  it  is  a  salutary  one,  for  under  its  influence  they 
have  become  neater,  more  sober,  and  more  capable ;  while 
Jack  and  James  will  soon  be  officers  —  Jack  goes  out  second 
mate  when  we  sail  again." 

"  Where  are  they  all  ?  "  Flora  inquired. 

"  They  are  in  the  forecas'le,  and  I'll  venture  to  say  Fred 
has  found  them  before  this  time." 

"  I've  no  doubt  of  that !  Annie  and  I  are  going  to  seek 
them,  also." 

"  The  steward  expects  to  see  you  soon,  as  he  has  some  fruit 
and  other  refreshments  in  ^waiting,"  interposed  Elery.  . 

"  He  is  very  kind,  but  I  wish  to  see  the  sailors  first ;  and, 
if  you  are  willing,  I  shall  ask  them  to  come  and  partake  of  it 
with  us."  • 

"I  think  you  may  do  so,  as  they  provided  it,"  said  he, 
smiling. 

Ascending  to  the  deck,  the  ladies  moved  forward,  when 
Fred,  seeing  them  advancing,  ran  out  to  conduct  them  on  ;  and, 
as  they  came  near,  Flora  saw  that  the  room  was  clean  and 
bright,  as  if  prepared  for  their  reception.  Whereupon  mem 
ory  flashed  another  picture  before  her  mind ;  so  that,  when 
she  stepped  over  the  threshold,  her  heart  beat  as  though  she 
was  about  to  enter  into  the  presence  and  receive  audience 
of  kings. 

The  sailors  arose  with  warm  and  honest  smiles  to  welcome 
her.  Taking  the  hand  of  each,  though  not  without  tears,  she 
called  them  her  friends,  her  protectors,  her  deliverers ;  and 
turning  to  Annie,  whose  eyes  were  overflowing-,  find  cln^ping 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  393 

her  hand,  she  continued,  saying,  "  This  lady  is  also  my  friend, 
being  true  and  noble,  as  you  are  ;  and  I  have  told  her  of  your 
generous  sacrifice  for  the  forlorn  and  destitute." 

"  Yes,  and  it  is  one  of  the  most  heroic  of  stories  ! "  said 
Annie.  "  Your  treatment  of  Flora  and  her  child  has  made 
me  love  the  ocean,  because  it  seems  to  foster  whatever  is  glo 
rious  in  the  soul." 

After  a  moment  of  silence,  Jack  came  near,  and  placed 
something  in  Flora's  hand ;  when  she,  observing  that  it  was 
money,  said,  "  O,  no,  no !  "  and  sank  down  on  a  seat,  trying 
to  restrain  her  tears. 

To  the  words  and  the  action  Jack  replied,  "  We're  sorry  to 
hurt  your  feelings,  but  it's  not  half  what  we  feel  to  be  your 
due  ;  for  we've  all  got  three  suits  to  our  spars,  where  we  had 
one  before  we  saw  you,  and  shot  enough  in  the  locker  to  bal 
last  and  trim  with  when  we  spread  'em." 

"  O  that  I  could  do  something  for  you  ! "  cried  Flora. 

"You've  done  every  thing — you've  given  us  all  we've  got! 
for  most  on  us  had  nearly  sunk  \^en  we  saw  that  you  felt  for 
us  and  believed  in  us,  which,  somehow,  makes  us  better,  so 
that  we're  trying  to  right  up  and  be  men." 

"  You  are  men  ! "  said  Annie  ;  "  men  fit  to  stand  among  the 
most  worthy ;  and  it  is  the  fulness  of  your  humanity  which 
so  overpowers  her." 

On  this  Flora,  through  her  subsiding  emotion,  said,  "  It  is 
so,  indeed ;  and,  for  all  your  giving,  I  can  hope  to  make  no 
return.  Yet  I  am  persuaded  that  a  more  bountiful  One  has 
given  his  blessing,  and  that  shall  calm  me."  When  rising, 
she  continued,  "  I  would  not,  my  friends,  that  you  should  ever 
forget  me  or  my  child  ;  but  let  me  pray  you  still  to  retain  some 
memory  of  yourselves.  I  should  rather  die  than  have  either 
of  you  suffer  on  account  of  your  charities  to  me." 

"  You  needn't  have  any  fears  about  us,"  replied  Jack  ;  "  we 


394  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

could  ride  at  our  anchors  if  we  liked,  but  we'd  sooner  be 
under  way." 

"  Then  I  wish  you  to  get  under  way  now,"  said  Flora, 
"  and  go  with  us  down  in  the  cabin  to  partake  of  something 
which  you  have  provided." 

On  this  proposition  Jack's  sails  appeared  to  shiver,  and 
turning  to  his  shipmates,  he  saw  that  they  were  all  braced 
sharp,  as  though  it  was  a  head  flaw.  So  he  replied,  "  This 
is  our  place ;  we  shouldn't  feel  at  home  aft ;  and  the  captain 
mightn't  like  it." 

"  He  will,  most  certainly,  like  it ;  for  we  told  him  what  we 
intended  to  do,  and  he  was  almost  as  much  pleased  at  the  idea 
as  we  were."  But  they  appearing  still  to  hold  back,  Flora 
continued,  "  Are  you  afraid  to  sail  under  my  convoy  ?  " 

"  Not  if  you've  got  that  dirk  with  you  which  you  mounted 
to  repel  boarders/'  Jack  replied. 

"Come,"  said  Flora,  smiling,  "you  cannot  deny  me  this 
favor  after  having  given  me  so  much." 

Thereupon  Jack  made  sail  slowly ;  when,  one  after  another, 
the  rest  tripped  their  anchors  and  drifted  out  after  him,  though 
not  exactly  in  the  wake  of  the  convoy ;  for  half  of  them  fell 
to  leeward  of  the  mainmast,  while  some  kept  broad  off,  until 
they  reached  the  scuppers,  and  then  went  sounding  along 
under  easy  way. 

Flora  and  Fred  led  the  fleet,  while  Jack  manoeuvred  to  fall 
behind  Annie.  But,  seeing  it,  she  said,  "  Do  you  intend  to 
desert  one  who  desires  your  company  ?  " 

The  tone  of  her  voice,  more  than  her  words,  drew  Jack  up 
alongside  again ;  when  he  said,  "  We  want  you  to  talk  over  her 
to  take  part  of  our  wages,  for  somehow  it  makes  the  work 
lighter,  and  the  watching  pleasanter,  when  we  feel  that  it 
is  bringing  in  something  which  may  cheer  them  as  cares 
for  us." 


LOVE     AND    LIBERTY.  895 

"  I  will  —  truly  I  will ;  for  she  loves  you  all  like  brothers  ; 
and  it  is  your  generosity  alone  which  so  melts  her  to  tears." 

"  Somehow  we  do  get  a  heavy  sea  on  when  she  comes  for- 
'ard  ;  but  it  has  washed  out  the  fo'cas'le ;  and  we  want  you  to 
thank  her  for't,  for  we're  rough,  and  don't  know  how." 

"  There  is  no  need  that  you  should  make  use  of  words 
where  you  are  known  by  heart  —  yet  I  will  do  as  you 
wish." 

On  entering  the  cabin,  as  they  did  in  advance,  —  for  Flora 
paused  to  bring  up  the  rear,  —  Jack  was  quite  as  much  at 
his  ease  as  though  he  had  been  standing  upon  his  mother's 
sanded  floor  on  the  Cape.  And  as  they  -came  into  the  pres 
ence  of  the  captain,  he  looked  upon  them  as  though  he  thought 
that  Annie  had  made  a  conquest ;  while  her  beauty  was  so 
heightened  by  the  emotion  of  the  hour,  and  her  manner  so 
subdued  by  heart-felt  sympathy,  that  he  became  filled  with 
her  radiance,  to  be  "  saddened  by  heavenly  doubts." 

Throwing  off  her  bonnet  to  wait  upon  the  sailors,  —  which 
she  did  with  easy  attention,  while  speaking  such  words  as 
made  them  feel  it  to  be  a  sister's  voice,  —  her  brown  glossy 
hair,  in  which  there  was  no  slightest  ripple,  lay  like  a  shadowy 
jut  around  her  temples,  relieving  their  proportions  as  though 
wreathed  by  an  artist,  yet  appearing  as  careless  as  nature ; 
while  the  occasion  deepened  her  color  and  breathing,  as  well 
as  the  whole  expression  of  her  flexible  and  perfect  form  —  at 
least  so  she  seemed  to  the  master  of  the  Muse ;  and  never 
again  can  he  enter  that  cabin  without  feeling  something  of  the 
spirit  of  her  presence. 

Flora  moved  among  the  crew  in  generous  rivalry,  and  Fred 
was  not  outdone  by  either  ;  yet  he  only  shouted  "  Land,  ho  !  " 
twice,  with  the  captain's  permission,  and  much  to  the  amuse 
ment  of  the  sailors. 

When  the  entertainment  was  over,  they  separated,  as  once 


396  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

before  they  had  done,  and,  entering  a  carriage  with  the  cap 
tain,  took  the  road  to  Greenville. 

On  reaching  the  cottage,  in  the  dusk  of  the  early  evening, 
Elery  said,  "  I  wish  you  to  introduce  me  to  your  father  to 
night,  Miss  McRae,  if  you  will  do  me  the  favor." 

"  Yes,  do,  Annie ;  and  then  I  can  have  tea  prepared  on 
your  return." 

"  It  will  give  me  pleasure  so  to  oblige  both  of  you,"  said 
Annie,  smiling. 

As  they  turned  up  the  street,  Flora  said,  "  Now  remember 
that  I  shall  await  your  coming." 

"  That  will  meet^  my  wish,"  replied  the  captain ;  "  so  you 
shall  be  obeyed,  if  I  have  any  influence,  or  any  of  the  art  of 
persuasion." 

They  found  Mr.  McRae  with  the  evening  news ;  and,  when 
the  introduction  was  over,  Annie  excused  herself  and  left 
them.  Thereupon  Elery  said,  "I  have  called  on  you,  Mr. 
McRae,  for  the  purpose  of  arranging  with  regard  to  the  cot 
tage." 

"  I  have  been  expecting  you,"  he  replied,  smiling  ;  "  there 
fore  I  drew  out  the  deed  a  day  or  two  since." 

"  How  much  is  the  consideration  ?  "  inquired  Elery,  taking 
out  his  purse. 

"  You  will  find  it  there  stated,"  he  answered,  while  handing 
him  the  title. 

Elery  opened  the  paper,  and  finding  it  written,  "  For  broth 
erly  kindness,"  said,  "  But " 

When  Mr.  McRae  interrupted  him,  with  — '"  You  must  not 
object  to  a  little  from  my  abundance,  when  you  have  so  hero 
ically  given  ;  for  my  daughter  has  revealed  the  story  to  me  ; 
and,  since  that  time,  whenever  I  look  out  of  my  window,  your 
cottage  seems  to  be  the  sunniest  spot  in  the  landscape  ;  and  I 
wish  to  keep  it  so." 


LOVE    AND    LIBEIITY.  397 

"  I  shall  try  to  Lave  it  continue  a  bright  place ;  yet,  as  you 
mean  the  benefit  for  her,  I  accept  it,  with  thanks,  in  her 
name ;  and  it  gives  me  pleasure  to  see  that  she  has  found 
friends  here." 

"  The  benefit  will  reach  her,  I  have  no  doubt,"  said  Mr. 
McRae,  as  Elery  arose  to  go.  "  Yet,  if  any  thing  more  be 
needed,  we  desire  to  be  especially  remembered ;  and  whenever 
it  may  please  you  to  call  on  us,  we  shall  be  glad  to  see  you." 

Thanking  him  for  his  courtesy,  the  sailor  invited  him  to 
visit  his  ship,  and  took  leave. 

On  this  Annie  came  tripping  down  the  stairs  to  join  him ; 
and,  opening  the  library  door,  said,  "  I  am  engaged  out  to  tea, 
father,  and  do  not  expect  to  return  until  nine  or  ten  o'clock." 
"  Very  well,  my  daughter,  that  may  be  as  you  please." 
As   they  passed  out  of  the  gate  Elery  said,  "  That  pear, 
which  I  sent  by  you  the  other  evening,  must  have  been  very 
persuasive,  or  else  the  bearer  of  it  was  so." 

"  I  hope  not  in  a  way  to  displease  you.  Indeed,  you  must 
permit  us  to  take  a  share  in  your  good  work ;  for,  while  it 
makes  my  father  more  cheerful  and  more  dear  to  me,  it  has 
given  a  joy  to  life  which  I  had  not  found  before." 

"  I  did  not  mention  it  to  chide.  As  you  desire  it,  so  I  would 
have  it ;  for  I  see  that  you  shape  your  course  by  the  stars." 

"  How  could  I  else,  when  your  deeds  lead  me  to  look  so 
high?" 

Having  then  reached  the  cottage,  they  entered  to  find  tea 
awaiting,  to  be  accompanied  and  followed  by  bright  and  cheer 
ful  conversation,  which  was  just  agitated  by  those  charming 
emotions  that  rise  to  perfection  only  in  the  glances  of  friend 
ship  and  love. 

When  the  evening  had  thus  swiftly  sped,  and  Elery  was  re 
turning  with  Annie,  he  remarked,  "  I  think  you  rather  devoted 
yourself  to  my  men  to-day." 
34 


398  THE    MUSTEE,   OR 

"  I  like  them,  and  particularly  the  one  with  whom  I  came 
to  the  cabin.  I  never  felt  the  full  meaning  of  the  phrase, 
1  heart  of  oak/  until  I  stood  beside  him.  The  Muse,  too,  is 
a  beauty ;  so  her  captain  has  reason  to  be  proud  ;  and  I  con 
fess  to  having  passed  one '  of  the  richest  days  of  my  life  this 
day.  Yet  how  little  did  I  dream  it !  It  is  a  new  revelation. 
Look  there,  above  us,  how  deep,  how  glorious  is  night !  still 
I  think,  as  I  gaze,  that  the  human  heart  is  deeper  and  more 
glorious  than  the  universe,  for  I  have  seen  that  to-day  which 
outshines  the  stars." 

Though  they  walked  slowly  they  soon  reached  the  door 
where  Elery  bade  her  good  night  with  a  thrilling,  but  a  silent 
heart,  for  he  saw  that  his  hour  had  not  yet  come  —  as  her  free 
and  soaring  speech  gave  sign  that  no  master  emotion  had 
awoke  to  lay  chains  on  her  tongue,  and  break  like  stormy 
waves  upon  the  shores  of  fear  and  hope. 

Well  could  he  wait  while  they  passed  many  pleasant  and 
ripening  hours  together  in  the  cottage  and  at  her  father's 
house,  —  seeing  that  his  presence  brightened,  if  his  partings 
did  not  sadden,  —  ere  the  Muse  once  more  went  forth  to  bear 
her  lyre  over  the  waves. 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  399 


CHAPTER   XL. 

Hath  vice  a 

Charter  got,  that  none  must  rise,  but  such,  who 
Of  the  devil's  faction  are  ?    The  way  to 
Honor  is  not  evermore  the  way  to 
Hell :  a  virtuous  man  may  climb. 

SIR  W.  DAVENANT. 

FEATHERSTONE  had  closed  up  his  business  relations  with 
New  Orleans,  drawn  home  his  capital,  and  embarked  it  in 
other  operations ;  which,  if  they  appeared  too  adventurous  to 
some,  were  generally  attended  with  success,  while  they  fur 
nished  him  a  pleasing  and  well  nigh  necessary  excitement. 

Being  ambitious  of  political  distinction,  he  aspired  to  a  seat 
in  Congress,  and  had  been  for  some  time  moving  to  accom 
plish  that  purpose.  When  the  day  for  the  meeting  of  the 
nominating  convention  to  fill  that  office  drew  near,  such  exer 
tions  were  made,  and  such  means  used,  that  most  of  those  who 
made  influence  in  assemblies  of  that  kind  assured  him  that  he 
would  be  the  nominee.  Yet  there  were  one  or  two  who  feared 
and  expressed  their  doubts,  as  it  was  the  time  when  the  ques 
tion  of  slavery  began  to  heave  and  surge,  and  threaten  to 
sunder  the  great  political  organizations,  although  they,  like 
the  others,  were  conservative  men,  and  loudly  professed  the 
Union,  because  it  is  dear  to  every  American  heart.  These 
politicians  worked  for  Featherstone  with  a  will ;  for,  on  being 
called  out  at  the  rooms  of  the  "  Union  Club,"  he  had  said, 
"It  appears  to  me,  gentlemen,  that  we  are  approaching  an 
important  crisis,  one  which  for  a  long  time  must  shape  the 
course  of  this  nation,  and  determine  whether  wisdom  or  fanati- 


400  THE     MUSTEE,     OR 

cism  shall  guide  her ;  yet  I  hold  that  the  chart  by  which  we 
are  bound  to  navigate  is  as  plain  as  the  way  is  safe.  I  need 
not  speak,  in  your  presence,  of  the  large  interests  which  not 
only  rest  upon,  but  are  inextricably  inwoven  with,  the  '  peculiar 
institution ; '  or  of  the  source  of  that  prosperity  which  enables 
the  southern  planter  to  be  patriarchal  in  his  hospitality  and 
princely  in  his  expenditure  —  thus  infusing  life-blood  into  all 
the  veins  of  trade  and  commerce,  as  well  as  gayety  and  tone 
into  all  our  places  of  pleasure.  Neither  will  I  pause  to  pic 
ture  to  you  the  desolation  which  must  stalk  over  that  fair  and 
fertile  region  if  the  tie  which  holds  the  ignorant  and  improvi 
dent  negro  under  the  supervision  of  intelligent  and  considerate 
masters  should  be  cut  asunder.  I  forbear,  also,  to  open  the 
view  beyond,  where  appear  indignity,  violence,  lust,  and  mur 
der,  pursuing  our  own  race  and  kindred.  I  forbear,  because 
any  appeal  to  the  feelings,  while  adjusting  this  question,  should 
be  discountenanced,  for  the  reason  that  '  truth  is  a  pearl  to  be 
sought  after  only  in  clear  waters.' 

"  It  was  a  saying  of  Pitt  that  all  great  questions  are  simple  ; 
and  if  examined,  as  it  should  be,  strictly  with  regard  to  its 
practical  operations  and  issues,  this  subject  is  a  striking  illus 
tration  of  the  doctrine,  as  there  are  but  two  or  three  points 
which  rise  into  the  clear,  cool  atmosphere  for  the  light  of  rea 
son  to  rest  upon.  These  I  shall  examine  in  as  few  words  as 
possible,  as  I  desire  to  be  understood. 

"  I  say  then,  in  the  first  place,  that  negro  slavery  in  the 
United  States  has  benefited  the  bondmen.  Any  man  may 
see,  if  he  will,  that  the  African  is  better  off  in  this  country,  as 
a  slave,  than  he  ever  was  in  any  situation  in  his  own.  In 
deed,  no  one  can  show  the  facts  that  will  shake  this  position, 
if  he  search  back  to  the  days  of  Jugurtha,  or  even  to  the 
pictures  which  represent  the  different  races  of  men  on  the 
walls  of  the  exhumed  temples  and  palaces  of  old  Egypt. 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  401 

Such  being  the  historical  view,  uniform  and  unchanged,  until 
modern  civilization  stepped  in  to  prevent  their  mutual  destruc 
tion  and  turn  them  to  use,  it  seems  to  me  entirely  to  dispose 
of  the  question  of  condition ;  for  we  are  not  to  compare  or 
contrast  their  state  with  ours,  —  a  common  error,  —  but  with 
that  of  their  own  race  in  their  native  land,  if  we  are  seeking 
truth. 

"This  being  conceded,  there  remains  "a  single  question  of 
policy,  namely,  the  return  or  surrender  of  the  fugitive ;  and 
when  I  say  that  they  want  him,  while  we  do  not,  —  than  which 
there  is  nothing  more  manifest,  so  that  even  the  blindest  may 
perceive  it,  if  he  will  but  think  of  their  social  position  amongst 
us,  —  it  appears  to  me  that  I  have  indicated  the  only  reason 
able  course  to  pursue  amid  the  fanatical  noise  of  the  hour. 

"These  two  points,  the  comparative  condition,  and  the 
necessary  laws  to  preserve  their  improved  state  or  enlarge  the 
sphere  of  their  usefulness,  are  the  sum  of  the  whole  matter. 
And  the  question  now  is,  Shall  this  great  system  of  peaceful 
life  and  binding  law  be  sacrificed  to  morbid  feeling,  or  be 
used  for  the  purposes  of  agitation  ?  the  chief  effects  of  which 
will  be  to  float  light  and  worthless  things  on  the  surface  for  ^i 
time,  and  make  the  waters  opaque  to  him  who  would  search 
their  depths.  I  know  not  what  course  may  seem  wisest  to 
others,  but  as  for  me,  I  shall  oppose  the  counsels  of  such 
leaders,  and  seek  to  quench  their  torch  ere  they  have  accom 
plished  their  incendiary  purpose." 

Park  was  one  of  the  delegates  to  the  convention  whose  suf 
frages  Featherstone  had  prepared  the  way  to  take.  When  a 
nominating  committee  had  been  packed  to  that  end,  and  while 
they  were  out  on  the  responsible  duty,  there  came  from  va 
rious  parts  of  the  hail  a  call  for  Park.  He  had  seen  no  occa 
sion  to  take  any  conspicuous  place  in  the  proceedings  hitherto, 
but  sat  with  rather  a  sad  countenance,  apparently  wrapped  in 
34* 


402  THE    MUSTEB,    OB 

meditation.  As  the  echoes  of  the  call  subsided,  he  arose  with 
an  expression  of  form  and  face  which  hushed  the  assembly, 
and  said,  "  Mr.  President :  If  I  believed  it  in  my  power  to 
give  direction  to  the  thought  or  higher  elevation  to  the  action 
of  this  assembly,  I  should  respond  to  the  call  with  a  more 
cheerful  spirit ;  but  I  am  aware  that  a  warning  voice  rarely 
receives  a  welcome,  although  it  be  ever  the  province  of  wis 
dom  to  take  of  the  passing  hour  some  security  for  the  future. 
Yet,  from  conscious  strength,  we  are  so  little  accustomed  to 
forearm  for  any  emergency,  however  momentous,  that  the 
alarmist  is  usually  treated  as  either  weak  or  designing.  Still  I 
-feel  that  I  cannot  shrink  from  such  office,  however  I  may  suf 
fer  thereby  in  your  estimation. 

"  In  following  out  the  duty  that  thus  devolves  upon  me,  I 
can  direct  your  attention  to  no  new  thing,  but  only  to  the  more 
complete  development  of  one  which,  having  had  many  years 
of  existence,  is  growing  ever  more  impatient  of  question  and 
belligerent  of  nature  —  and  are  we  always  to  fall  back  before 
it  ?  I  know  that  this  has  been,  and  still  is,  by  some  among 
us,  held  to  be  hallowed  ground  ;  but  I  can  no  longer  respect 
£veil  that  only  conceals  from  the  most  careless  glance  that 
there  is  a  struggle  going  on  between  Slavery  and  Freedom  in 
this  country  which  will  shake  the  continent ;  and  that  they 
have  been,  and  are,  and  must  be  forever,  foes.  Gentlemen 
may  cry,  Peace !  and  close  their  eyes  to  every  thing  but  mer 
chandise  ;  yet  the  issue  is  already  joined,  and  all  our  future 
will  be  but  a  prolonged  or  an  adjourned  trial,  until  one  or  the 
other  party  shall  march  on  victorious.  Do  gentlemen  see  any 
signs  of  forbearance  ?  Are  not  the  concessions  and  compro 
mises  which  we  have  made  cited  as  precedents  and  reasons 
for  granting  more  ?  Therefore  does  it  not  become  us  to  pause 
and  inquire  where  this  shameful  retreat  is  to  end  ?  As  for  me, 
although  amid  sad  forebodings  I  must  say  it,  I  see  no  ram- 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  403 

part  in  the  distance  save  the  human  breast,  and  that  is  ours 
to-day. 

"  I  know  not  how  others  feel ;  but  shame  comes  over  me 
when  I  hear  it  intimated  that  we  are  to  yield  to  threats  or  ac 
quiesce  in  encroachment ;  yet  if  it  must  be  so  for  a  time,  while 
the  men  of  the  day  lead  us  far  from  truth,  we  shall  rise  again 
and  struggle  back,  through  peril  and  with  glory,  to  the  old 
traditions  ;  for  the  people  of  this  nation  love  liberty.  And  is 
there  any  worth  in  any  thing  which  can  be  offered  in  exchange 
for  her  gems  ?  Do  we  not  all  hold  them  too  sacred  to  allow  of 
their  being  weighed,  or  even  rudely  breathed  upon,  where  they 
glitter  in  the  crown  of  the  Union  ?  If  we  may  not  speak  of 
the  constitution  without  reverence,  how  much  more  ought  we 
to  regard  the  spirit  of  freedom,  which  is  its  glory  !  Yet  that 
spirit  is  a  subtile  essence,  which  no  constitution  fcas  succeeded 
in  retaining,  for  any  length  of  time,  in  all  its  original  purity 
and  fulness  ;  arid  great  as  is  the  one  which  was  formed  for  us, 
and  profoundly  grateful  as  we  are  for  the  gift,  what  can  they 
who  shall  follow  us  across  the  stage  find  of  our  enacting,  I  will 
not  say  to  enlarge,  but  to  preserve  their  work  ?  while  we  know 
that  the  framers  of  that  instrument  had  ideas  of  freedom 
which  they  could  not  embody,  although  they  died  in  the  faith 
that  their  time  would  come.  Yet  where  are  their  prophesies  ? 
Is  there  any  sign  that  the  day  of  their  fulfilment  is  ad 
vancing  ? 

"  Be  not  deceived ;  shrink  not  from  the  exigencies  of  the 
hour  :  on  the  past  no  man  can  repose  in  peace ;  for  it  is  in 
the  nature  of  Tyranny  to  encroach.  Therefore  there  is  yet  to 
be  many  a  convulsive  distribution  of  power,  and  many  a  pain 
ful  cremation  of  the  phoenix,  ere  political  institutions  take  that 
final  form  in  which  all  the  children  of  men  can  rejoice.  I 
hear  a  voice  from  the  clouds,  which  lower  around,  summoning 
us  to  duty,  imploring  us  to  put  our  talent  of  liberty  into  circu- 


404  THE     MUSTEE,     OR 

lation,  so  that,  when  the  Master  cometh,  he  may  receive  his 
own  with  increase.  Such  only  will  be  found  to  have  been 
faithful  servants  of  Him  and  the  people." 

Here  the  nominating  committee  entered,  and  reporting  the 
name  of  Anthony  Featherstone,  Esq.,  it  was  put  to  vote  and 
confirmed,  in  the  convention,  by  two  majority.  On  the  an 
nouncement  of  the  result  the  president  said,  "  I  am  instructed 
that  there  is  some  other  business  to  come  before  us,  whenever 
gentlemen  are  ready." 

The  excitement  of  the  members,  on  the  vote  being  declared, 
gave  Park  an  opportunity  to  depart  without  special  observa 
tion  ;  and  when  he  had  gained  the  street  lie  turned  down 
towards  the  residence  of  Featherstone,  which  was  not  far  off. 
It  being  a  long  time  since  he  had  called  at  that  gentleman's 
mansion,  —  although  he  still  continued  to  return  his  saluta 
tion,  whenever  they  casually  met,  —  he  thought  he  would  avail 
himself  of  that  opportunity  to  give  him  some  timely  instruc 
tion,  as  he  felt  sure  of  finding  him  at  home,  ready  to  receive 
the  committee,  who  would  soon  come  to  surprise  him  with  the 
fact  of  his  nomination,  and  praying  his  acceptance.  So  think 
ing,  he  arrived  at  the  house ;  and,  on  inquiry,  the  servant 
signified  that  Featherstone  was  at  leisure,  and,  leading  on, 
ushered  the  orator  into  the  presence  of  the  nominee. 

"  Ah ! "  said  the  political  aspirant,  as  he  arose  with  his 
blandest  smile  and  advanced  a  step,  "  I  thought  you  were  at 
the  convention,  Mr.  Park ;  I  believe  I  saw  your  name  among 
the  delegates  ?  " 

"  I  left  their  place  of  meeting  a  few  moments  since." 

"  Have  they  made  a  nomination  so  soon  ?  "  inquired  Feath 
erstone,  looking  at  his  watch ;  "  if  so,  it  must  have  been  done 
on  the  first  ballot." 

"  It  was  so  done ;  and  they  nominated  Anthony  Feather- 
stone,  Esq." 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  405 

"  That  is  an  unexpected  honor ;  and  I  am  at  a  loss  to  find 
what  should  fix  their  hopes  on  me.  Yet,  on  reflection,  I  think 
that  it  must  be  because  there  is  a  great  question  pending,  the 
bearings,  circumstances,  and  details  of  which,  they  know,  are 
familiar  to  me." 

But  as  Park  made  no  reply  or  appeared  about  to  do  so, 
while  his  manner  and  expression  were  puzzling  and  porten 
tous,  Featherstone  asked,  rather  dryly,  "  Am  I  to  understand 
that  you  were  delegated  to  notify  me  of  the  action  of  the  con 
vention  ?  " 

"  I  hold  no  place  by  their  appointment ;  neither  did  I  come 
here  to  declare  their  preference  ;  but  simply  to  say  to  you 
that,  when  a  committee  does  appear  to  signify  the  action  of 
that  body,  you  are  to  decline  the  nomination." 

The  audacity  of  this  direction  stunned  Featherstone  for  an 
instant ;  but  recovering,  he  inquired,  while  feeling  that  some 
terror  hung  over  him  like  the  sword  of  Damocles,  "  Do  you 
call  this  interference  a  friendly  service  ?  " 

"  I  came  here  to  perform  a  stern  act  of  duty,  to  accomplish 
an  aim  of  sovereign  justice,"  said  Park,  with  piercing  coldness 
of.  accent.  Yet  softening  his  glance,  he  added,  "But,  now 
that  you  so  remind  me,  I  see  it  to  be  the  height  of  friendship 
also,  if  thereby  you  will  be  counselled  and  curb  your  career." 

"  When  I  wish  for  advice  in  this  matter,  I  may  call  you  in," 
said  Featherstone,  while  all  the  lawless  acts  of  his  life  were 
tumultuous  in  his  memory ;  "  but  until  I  do,  you  would  do 
well  to  shun  the  office." 

"  I  came  here,"  replied  Park,  while  his  lip  curled,  "  neither 
to  advise  nor  persuade,  because  I  knew  that  such  mild  appli 
cations  would  avail  nothing  ;  but  to  direct.  I  appear  here  for 
Flora  and  her  child  ;  and  in  their  names  I  protest  against 
your  temerity  in  attempting  to  represent  a  free  people  after 
having  sold  your  own  blood  into  bondage." 


406  THE     M  US  TEE,     OR 

"  It  is  all  a  cursed  lie  ! "  Featherstone  hastily  declared. 

"  That,"  said  Park,  (as  Featherstone's  answer,  although  it 
denied,  implied  a  knowledge  of,  the  facts,)  "  is  a  blackguard's 
last  defence,  and  worthy  of  you  and  your  cause.  I  came 
here  not  only  to  save  our  politics  from  a  still  deeper  stain,  but 
to  prevent  the  press  from  proclaiming  the  history  of  your 
relation  to  those  persons  ;  which  it  shall  do  to-morrow,  if  you 
venture  to  accept  their  offer." 

"What  can  be  done?"  inquired  the  candidate,  cowering 
under  the  stroke  ;  "  if  you  will  name  it,  I  may  take  it  into  con 
sideration." 

"  Seek  out  those  whom  you  have  so  foully  wronged ;  then, 
when  you  have  made  the  fullest  restitution  in  your  power,  you 
shall  have  their  forgiveness,  and,  what  you  consider  of  vastly 
more  value,  my  silence." 

"If  you  will  bring  me  to  them,"  said  he,  brightening  up 
Avith  the  feeling  that  he  was  surmounting  the  obstacles,  "  and 
stand  out  of  my  way  in  this  matter,  I  will  do  any  thing  that 
you  can  say  is  reasonable." 

"  Not  that  length  !  for  this  nomination  must  be  declined, 
under  any  circumstances,  as  you  are  unfit  for  the  post." 

"  Then,"  said  Featherstone,  his  face  flaming  with  passion 
and  his  lip  quivering,  "  they  and  you  may  go  to  hell ! " 

"  As  the  committee  must  be  near  here,  I  give  place,"  said 
Park,  turning  to  go  ;  "  but  you  will  decline  the  honor  they 
offer,  for  the  same  reason  which  compelled  Cassar  to  put  away 
the  proffered  crown,  after  he  had  trampled  on  liberty." 

On  this  the  candidate's  features  overspread  with  spite,  as 
his  mouth  overflowed  with  impotent  curses  ;  and  Park  left 
him  to  rage  alone.  Featherstone  was  still  savage,  almost 
frantic,  when  the  committee  were  shown  in,  so  that  he  received 
them  strangely.  And  on  their  declaring  the  object  of  the 
visit,  he  replied,  "  The  nomination  of  the  convention  is  as 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  407 

unexpected  as  it  was  unsought :  more  pressing  interests  per 
suade  me  to  decline  the  honor  —  I  cannot  accept ! "  Thus 
far  the  formulary,  when  his  passions  mastered  him,  and  he 
cried,  "  Curse  politics  !  a  curse  is  on  the  purchased  paths  to 
office !  and  if  the  state  were  falling  in  ruins  now,  /  could 
laugh  :  but  you  may  go  and  tell  your  convention  that  I  shall 
pay  no  more  to  accomplish  it.  Then  they  will  laugh ;  for 
they  know  that  moneyed  fools  are  becoming  more  numerous  and 
more  liberal  in  their  offers  to  those  who  finger  the  dice  of 
every  important  election.  So  tell  them  to  go  on  'loading' 
and  palming  with  all  their  devilish  cunning,  for  they  are  the 
quick  curse  of  the  country  ! "  and,  starting  wildly  up  he  strode 
across  the  room. 

But  the  committee  still  lingering  as  if  in  doubt,  though 
really  they  were  fixed  with  amazement,  he  turned  upon  them, 
saying,  "  Are  you  not  answered  ?  have  I  not  been  sufficiently 
explicit  for  your  understandings?"  Thereupon  they  huddled, 
and  took  wing,  like  a  covey  under  the  eye  of  a  marksman. 
So  gaining  the  street  and  returning  to  the  hall,  the  convention 
was  immediately  called  to  order  to  hear  their  report. 

This  accomplished,  the  chairman  was  appealed  to,  who, 
rising,  said,  "  Your  committee  have  waited  on  Mr.  Feather- 
stone,  the  nominee,  and  acquainted  him  with  the  honor  which 
this  body  had  conferred ;  but  he  peremptorily  declined  being  a 
candidate." 

"  I  think  that  there  must  be  some  mistake  ! "  ejaculated  one 
of  the  members,  without  rising  in  his  place,  while  many  others 
looked  what  he  declared. 

"  Order  !  "  cried  the  president.  "  Is  there  no  probability, 
Mr.  Chairman,  of  Mr.  Featherstone's  acceptance  ? " 

"  Your  committee  have  no  doubt  of  the  matter,"  the  chair 
man  replied ;  "  they  believe  it  to  be  one  of  the  fixed  facts." 

This  final  announcement  struck  many  with  surprise,  and  a 


408-  THE     MUSTEE,    OR 

certain  few  with  blank  astonishment.  It  drew  the  delegates 
from  their  seats,  around  the  committee,  to  hear  Featherstone's 
precise  words,  which  being  many  times  repeated,  it  at  length 
grew  to  be  the  conviction  that  the  man  was  insane.  Then 
there  followed  brief  consultations  between  a  particular  few, 
with  low-spoken,  but  decisive  words,  out  of  which  set  came  a 
motion  to  adjourn  —  for  the  "  wire  pullers  "  were  thrown  into 
confusion,  they  having  provided  against  no  such  catastrophe. 

That  course,  however,  did  not  appear  to  give  general  satis 
faction,  although  it  might  be  very  desirable  to  some.  This 
being  observed  by  one  of  the  more  active  members,  he  arose 
and  said,  "Mr.  President:  I  think  that  I  give  utterance  to  the 
prevailing  sentiment  of  this  body  by  objecting  to  any  form  of 
separation,  until  the  purpose  for  which  we  are  here  convened 
be  accomplished ;  or,  at  least,  still  further  sought  to  be'. 
Therefore,  I  now  move  that  we  proceed  to  ballot  once  more, 
and  with  the  single  aim  of  the  public  good.  With  that  high 
object  full  before  me,  and  in  order  to  stimulate  the  action  of 
every  man  who  hears  me,  I  nominate  to  the  consideration  of 
this  assembly  Brian  Park,  Esq.,"  (cheers)  —  "a  man,  Mr. 
President,  that  even  you  need  not  blush  to  honor ;  a  man 
worthy  to  take  any  place  to  which  we  have  the  power  to  call 
him  ;  a  man  who  loves  that  liberty  which  we  all  so  loudly 
profess ;  one,  also,  whom  God  has  clothed  with  the  ability  and 
the  courage  which  become  a  champion.  And,  closing  our 
eyes  to  every  thing  save  the  glory  of  our  country,  let  us  give 
our  standard  to  his  hand ;  then,  though  the  night  be  dark, 
the  morning  will  meet  it  still  waving,  the  breeze  find  every 
fold  floating  free." 

Immediately  on  the  conclusion  of  the  member's  remarks,  the 
motion  to  adjourn  was  loudly  called  for  ;  which,  being  put,  was 
voted  down. 

Then  they  proceeded  to  ballot,  though  not  without  two  or 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  409 

three  attempts  to  take  the  business  from  the  hands  of  the  con 
vention  at  large,  and  turn  it  over  to  a  packed  committee.  But 
the  time  for  that  stale  manoeuvre  had  passed  ;  for  the  mem 
bers,  many  of  them,  had  shaken  oif  the  common  lethargy,  and 
were  breaking  away  from  the  routine  of  such  occasions,  so  that 
they  seemed  to  be  in  earnest,  as  if  feeling  their  purpose  to  be 
worthy  of  their  energies.  Thus  armed,  they  carried  it  through 
successfully ;  and  when  the  vote  was  declared,  it  was  found 
that  Park  had  twenty  majority. 

On  leaving  Featherstone,  Park  had  gone  to  his  office,  sup 
posing  that  the  business  of  the  convention  would  be  postponed. 
But,  on  being  notified  of  his  nomination,  he  again  appeared  in 
the  assembly. 

Thereupon,  the  many  knots  of  delegates  sundered,  and  each 
resuming  his  seat,  the  murmur  fell ;  and  amid  the  silence  Park 
slowly  arose,  as  if  weighed  down  by  the  burden  of  his  thoughts, 
and  said,  — 

"  Mr.  President,  and  Gentlemen :  I  thank  you  for  your  suf 
frages.  I  honor  you  for  the  noble  impulse  of  liberty  and 
humanity  from  which  they  sprung.  I  hail  it  as  an  omen  of 
the  wide"  awakening  which  is  to  come.  I  perceive  by  it  that 
the  patriotic  heart  still  throbs  quickly  at  thought  of  peril  to 
freedom.  I  see  the  thrill  and  the  fire  which  beget  republics. 
They  fill  me  with  the  highest  hope  ;  yet  I  cannot  permit  them 
to  blind  me  to  the  actual  condition  of  public  sentiment.  I  am 
persuaded  that  the  people  do  not  yet  sympathize  with  the 
ideas  which  I^have  expressed,  and  you  have  so  generously 
approved ;  and  if  so,  how  can  I  be  a  representative,  in  any 
popular  or  powerful  £ense  of  the  word  ?  I  know  that  there 
are  gentlemen  who  think  Congress  is  the  fitting  arena  in  which 
to  agitate  and  form  public  opinion.  I  have  come  to  a  different 
conclusion.  I  believe  it  to  be  a  place  for  deliberation  —  for 
the  full  expression  and  final  trial  of  that  opinion  ere  it  take 
35 


410  THE     MUSTEE,     OB 

the  form  of  law.  This  being  my  conviction,  how  can  I  meet 
your  wishes  ?  If  I  yield,  it  will  be  through  love  of  place  or 
ambition  of  distinction  ;  and  no  good  could  come  of  the  mis 
sion  —  it  would  be  without  success  and  without  honor.  No  ; 
the  representative  of  the  truths  which  I  have  uttered  must 
wait  until  the  people  are  thoroughly  aroused  to  their  vital  im 
portance.  He  should  enter  those  wide-echoing  halls  only  as 
the  foremost  wave  of  an  in-heaving  ocean,  grand  in  its  up 
rising,  and  irresistible  in  its  might.  Though  the  signs  of  that 
flood  are  faint,  its  hour  will  yet  come.  In  the  mean  time,  the 
broad  waters  are  to  be  troubled,  and  that,  too,  by  far  other 
hands  than  such  as  are  clutching  at  Ambition's  ladder.  Our 
rulers  are  to  be  confronted,  and  their  proclivities  proclaimed 
to  the  people.  This  is  a  sad  task ;  yet,  like  Hamlet  in  laying 
open  her  crime  to  his  mother,  — 

'  We  must  be  cruel  only  to  be  kind.' 

Nothing  but  the  supremest  devotion  to  the  good  of  the  coun- 
try  can  sanction  this  course  ;  and  he  who  enters  upon  it  will 
accomplish  little  unless  lie  put  aside  all  seeming  private  ad 
vantage. 

"  So  understanding  the  nature  of  the  office  to  which  you 
would  elevate  me,  I  must  oppose  your  voices  until  a  more 
auspicious  day.  Would  that  such  day  had  already  arrived  ! 
But  my  words  and  your  friendly  reception  of  them  are  only  a 
far-off  sign  of  the  advancing  dawn.  To  the  advent  of  that 
morning  I  henceforward  devote  myself,  in  socjal  converse,  in 
primary  meetings,  in  lycenm  halls,  and  through  the  press  — 
these  are  the  cradles  and  schools  of  great  national  questions  : 
it  is  there  that  the  hand  is  formed  which  is  greater  than  the 
throne  itself,  and  to  which  it  must  yield  the  sceptre,  or,  at 
length,  be  crushed." 

This  address  caused  those  who  had  cast  their  votes  against 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  411 

Park,  and  who  were  not  yet  dwarfed  and  hardened  into 
"hacks,"  to  blush  that  they  had  so  done.  There  were  some, 
however,  who  received  it  with  a  sneer,  and  assailed  it  with 
ridicule.  So  there  were  a  certain  few,  that  had  heard  Feath- 
erstone's  conversations  on  the  subject  of  the  nomination,  and 
knew  something  of  the  amount  of  money  which  he  had  lav 
ished  to  gain  it,  who  gathered  into  a  knot  by  themselves,  and 
discussed  him,  only  to  become  more  puzzled,  so  as  to  end  in 
the  word  "  Fool !  " 

"  And  a  green  one  at  that,"  remarked  one.  "  Who  ever 
heard  of  any  thing  so  verdant  ?  He  ought  never  to  be  in 
vited  to  the  public  crib  again  ;  he  evidently  prefers  grass.  I 
think  he'd  like  to  work  out  Nebuchadnezzar's  sentence." 

"  You  may  be  right,"  replied  another ;  "  yet  perhaps  he 
declines  because  his  taste  is  too  delicate  for  cabbage." 

An  hour  after  the  departure  of  the  committee  Aurelia  en 
tered  the  apartment  where  Featherstone  still  sat,  with  his 
elbows  on  the  table,  and  his  hands  in  his  hair,  glowering  at 
something  in  the  air  which  seemed  to  concentrate  his  senses, 
although  it  was  invisible  to  all  other  eyes.  When,  however, 
in  an  instant,  he  became  conscious  of  her  presence,  he  started 
up  and  growled  out,  "  Is  there  no  room  in  this  house  where  I 
can  be  alone  ?  " 

"  Nothing  could  be  more  agreeable  to  me,"  she  replied,  "  if 
you  will  only  give  notice  what  place  you  have  selected  for 
your  meditations." 

But  as  she  continued  to  advance  quite  nonchalantly  towards 
the  table,  where  he  stood  in  rather  a  theatrical  attitude  of  defi 
ance,  —  which  she,  however,  did  not  appear  to  observe,  —  he 
blurted  out,  with  increasing  emphasis,  "What  do  you  want 
here?" 

"  At  least  one  thing  which  I  do  not  find  —  a  gentleman." 

"  That  is  something  which  an  intruder  should  have  no 
expectation  of  finding." 


412  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

"  Can  I  be  an  intruder  in  any  part  of  this,  my  mother's 
house,  because  you,  for  the  moment,  may  have  entered  there?" 

"  Your  mother's  house !  More  tomb  than  house  —  wherein 
you  were  half  buried  among  the  bones  and  dust  of  departed 
splendor.  I  wish  that  I  could  change  it  back  to  the  condition 
in  which  I  found  it,  just  to  see  how  you  would  plead,  and 
weep,  and  caress  for  its  restoration." 

"  My  dear,  you  cannot  wish  for  that  change  more  than 
I  do,  so  that  you  vanish  with  the  other  gewgaws!  Then 
Hope  might  once  more  return,  though  never  again  in  my  heart 
can  she  hold  high  festival.  Do  you  dream  that  the  gold  and 
crimson  of  the  decorator's  loom,  with  all  the  upholsterer's  cun 
ning,  can  compensate  for  the  lost  radiance  of  her  wing  ?  " 

"  Indeed,  one  would  imagine,  from  your  tone  and  manner, 
that  you  thought  yourself  foully  wronged  in  my  having  sur 
rounded  you  with  every  luxury,  while  elevating  you  and  your 
house  to  the  circles  of  fashion  ;  and  permit  me  humbly  to  beg 
your  pardon  for  so  doing,  hoping  to  gain  it  by  confessing,  as 
I  do  now,  the  sincerest  sorrow  over  the  foolish  act." 

"If  your  sorrow  and  supplication  could  restore,  I  should 
accept  them  with  joy  and  thanksgiving,  as  the  prelude  to 
divinest  harmony." 

"  Restore  what  ?  "  sneered  he,  with  venomous  expression  — 
"  the  poverty,  the  gloom,  the  intense  longing  for  wealth  and 
station,  and  the  apparent  passion  ?  " 

"  Truly,  it  is  a  painful  catalogue,  but  one  that  you,  above 
all,  should  have  spared  me  ;  although,  when  I  reflect  upon  what 
you  are,  I  am  not  surprised  to  hear  it.  Cold,  coarse,  and  cal 
lous,  you  have  chilled  or  blighted  every  tendril  of  my  nature 
which  turned  to  you,  until  my  heart  scorned  the  direction  :  so 
that  through  you,  it  has  become  a  ruin,  and  its  once  bright 
world  lies  desolate,  in  all  which  you  have  deceived  me  past  the 
expression  of  words  —  wronged  me  beyond  reparation ;  even 


LOVE     AND    LIBERTY.  413 

my  peace  of  mind,  which  the  lowliest  and  loneliest  may  keep, 
has  gone,  like  the  lost  Pleiad,  to  be  seen  no  more." 

"  This  is  rich  repayment  for  all  that  I  have  expended  on 
you.  Yet  it  is  some  consolation  to  hear  you  confess  how  the 
gilded  harness  chafes,  especially  when  I  call  to  mind  its 
strength,  and  the  power  that  lies  in  my  hand  to  curb  you  at 
will !  Hence  you  may  find  abusive  words  a  little  too  expensive 
for  common  use,  although  they  appear  to  be  as  plenty  as  pen 
nies  were  scarce  before  I  was  inveigled  into  giving  you  relief. 
I  wish  to  God  that  I  might  be  poor,  for  a  time,  just  for  the 
enjoyment  it  would  afford  me  to  look  at  you,  when  you  saw 
the  gaunt  spectres  of  want  and  squalor  returning." 

"  From  my  soul  I  desire  it,  as  all  my  surroundings  now  cry 
out  and  reproach  me ;  and  yet  for  still  other  reason,  it  would 
so  cover  you  with  the  contempt  and  forgetfulness  of  the 
world  that  I  might  feel  some  touch  of  pity  for  what  I  now 
despise." 

"  I  have  heard  enough  of  this  impotent  railing,"  cried  Feath- 
erstone,  turning  livid ;  "  and  if  it  does  not  cease  at  once,  we 
will  see  if  power  can  do  any  thing  to  suppress  it.  So  leave 
this  room  instantly  ! " 

"  I  defy  the  power  to  which  you  appeal  as  deeply  as  I  scorn 
the  possessor  of  it.  And  if  I  have  abstained  from  expressing 
my  thoughts  hitherto,  be  assured  that  it  was  not  from  any  fear, 
but  because  I  took  counsel  of  Prudence  ;  to  her  persuasions  I 
listen  no  more,  as  you  are  not  capable  of  distinguishing  be 
tween  forbearance  and  cowardice.  Neither  will  your  empha 
sis,  nor  your  bluster,  move  me  from  any  room  in  this  house 
until  it  be  my  pleasure  to  go.  Yet,  having  finished  the  lesson 
for  the  day,  I  prefer  to  leave  you,  so  that  you  may  the  more 
thoroughly  digest  it,  my  dear."  When,  taking  the  book  which 
she  had  come  to  seek  from  the  table,  she  quietly,  leisurely, 
and  with  a  slight  smile  even,  turned  away  and  left  him. 
35* 


414  THE    M  US  TEE,     OR 

But  seeing  that  she  was  passing  out  without  closing  the 
door,  and  having  been  on  the  very  verge  of  violence,  Feather- 
stone  sprang  forward  with  an  oath,  and  threw  the  leaf  against 
her  so  swiftly  that  she  fell  heavily  to  the  floor ;  whereupon  he 
locked  it  with  a  jerk,  and  returned  to  his  meditations. 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  415 


CHAPTER   XLI. 

Yet,  freedom !  yet  thy  banner,  torn,  but  flying, 
Streams  like  the  thunder  storm  against  the  wind ; 
Thy  trumpet  voice,  though  broken  now  and  dying, 
The  loudest  still  the  tempest  leaves  behind ; 
Thy  tree  hath  lost  its  blossoms  ;  and  the  rind, 
Chopped  by  the  axe,  looks  rough  and  little  worth; 
But  the  sap  lasts,  —  and  still  the  seed  we  find 
Sown  deep,  even  iu  the  bosom  of  the  north ; 
So  shall  a  better  spring  less  bitter  fruit  bring  forth. 

BYRON. 

FEATHERSTONE'S  ambition  had  been  struck  low  by  the  fear 
of  disclosure,  and  thus  all  his  proud  hopes  were  suddenly 
baffled.  He  looked  to  the  thick  cloud  which  had  so  swiftly 
swept  around  him,  but  no  ray  of  consolation  penetrated  it, 
neither  could  he  discern  any  break  in  its  folds  for  future 
outlet. 

Then  recoiling  on  the  past,  he  felt  deeply  mortified  that  he 
had  gone  so  far  with  the  influential  politicians  ;  for  he  saw  that 
they  looked  upon  him  as  if  they  deemed  his  course  to  be  in 
explicable.  And  if  at  any  time  he  met  either  of  the  members 
of  the  committee  who  waited  upon  him  on  that  momentous 
occasion,  he  was  put  to  burning  shame  that  he  should  have  so 
lost  self-control  in  their  presence.  Neither  was  he  without 
chagrin  whenever  he  thought  of  the  amount  of  money  that  he 
had  expended  to  purchase  disgrace.  Ah!  how  often,  as  it 
sickened  his  mind,  did  he  cry,  "  Fool ! "  to  himself,  with  an 
indescribable  loathing.  Such  sharp  thoughts  and  haunting 
memories  as  these  must  be  laid  or  overlaid. 

Yet  shaken  as  he  was,  it  wrought  no  change  in  his  scale  of 
value,  so  that  he  desired,  first  of  all,  to  make  up  his  pecuniary 


416  THE     M  U  S  T  E  E  ,     OR 

loss ;  and  hope  sent  him  to  the  brokers'  board,  where  he  had 
been  before  with  some  success ;  but,  entering  without  the  same 
coolness  and  caution,  he  found  the  results  adverse ;  so  much 
so,  indeed,  that  he  became  alarmed,  and  made  an  oath  with 
himself  and  Fortune  that,  if  she  would  only  lead  him  back  to 
whence  he  started,  he  would  venture  there  no  more.  On  this 
vow  the  luck  seemed  to  take  a  favorable  turn,  so  that  he  came 
nearly  up  to  the  point  of  departure ;  but  then  he  fell  back  once 
more.  Soon,  however,  it  took  another  turn,  and  he  rose  again  ; 
whereon  followed  other  fluctuations,  until,  after  tossing  upon  a 
most  agitated  sea  for  many  months,  he  saw  himself  winner. 
Yet  at  that  stage  he  paused  only  to  reply  to  the  monitor 
which  whispered  of  his  pledge,  with  some  sophistry  about  not 
meaning  to  swear  to  stop  there,  "  That,  of  course,  I  intended 
to  include  the  cursed  electioneering  expenses ! "  and,  after  a 
stormy  voyage,  he  at  length  rounded  that  point ;  where,  for  a 
few  days,  he  rested  secure.  Thereon  came  back  the  old,  dis 
tasteful  thoughts  and  sickening  memories,  with  an  increased 
craving  for  excitement,  which  his  late  habit  had  engendered. 
Neither  did  his  friends  fail  to  tempt  him  with  brilliant  pros 
pects,  while  reminding  him  of  his  judgment  and  skill,  so  that 
he  began  to  fancy  that  his  success  had  come  through  knowl 
edge —  that  experience  made  the  path  safe.  Consequently  he 
entered  again  into  the  play,  with  varying  fortunes,  yet  ever 
higher  stakes,  until,  secreting  what  he  could  of  his  property, 
he  left  his  high-minded  and  adroit  associates  in  the  game  with 
a  taint  upon  his  credit,  that  being  thought  less  disgraceful  than 
an  empty  treasury. 

When  Featherstone  had  cooled  off,  so  that  he  was  capable 
of  reflecting  upon  his  condition,  he  concluded  to  recommence 
the  practice  of  the  law;  and,  making  known  his  determina 
tion,  his  friends  procured  him  .the  appointment  of  United 
States  Commissioner  for  New  York  as  the  crisis  of  eighteen 
hundred  and  fifty  had  just  passed. 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  417 

That  crisis  wherein  Liberty  took  a  backward  step,  even 
while  leaning  upon  the  arm  of  our  mightiest  statesman  —  the 
one  who,  through  many  years,  had  laid  his  hand  upon  these 
jarring  states,  whenever  he  pleased,  and  composed  them  to 
silence,  if  not  to  harmony,  in  the  name  of  the  constitution. 
Had  he  stood  adverse  to  the  fugitive  slave  act,  it  were  bar 
rier  all  sufficient  against  the  encroachment ;  but  he  gave  his 
great  genius  to  its  support,  twining  his  large  thoughts  into, 
what  he  held  to  be,  a  bond  of  union,  and  therefore  his  most 
glorious  wreath ;  and  long,  indeed,  will  it  survive  to  lie  upon 
the  coffin  of  that  measure,  and  draw  the  pilgrim  to  its  tomb. 

It  was  that  statute  which  Featherstone  had  been  selected 
to  assist  in  executing ;  and  it  was  thought  to  be  a  judicious 
appointment,  as  he  appeared  to  be  well  qualified  to  carry  it 
through.  Besides,  he  had  been  unfortunate ;  and  those  who 
have  the  power  of  naming  to  office  are  apt  to  take  such  fact 
into  their  kind  consideration;  so  that  most  of  the  places  in 
their  gift  are  filled  with  persons  who  have  not  succeeded  in 
other  things  —  a  trait  of  charity  in  them  which  has  not  yet 
had  its  due  attention  and  applause. 

The  enactment  of  the  fugitive  law  drew  men  from  the  far 
south  to  visit  us;  and  among  them  came  Bill  Frink.  The 
day,  almost  the  hour,  on  which  Bill  arrived,  he  went  out  to 
Greenville ;  not  because  he  was  particularly  desirous  to  see 
his  brother,  but  rather  on  account  of  something  which  he 
noted  in  a  letter  of  his,  although  he  had  afterwards  received 
one  from  him  that  seemed  to  have  been  written  with  a  view  to 
counteract  or  do  away  with  the  impression  made  by  the  first. 

Entering  the  town  a  little  before  sunset,  Bill  left  his  horse 
in  a  stable,  where,  by  inquiring,  he  was  directed  to  Joe's  res 
idence  ;  and,  on  reaching  it,  a  summons  brought  Joe  himself. 

When  the  short  brother  opened  the  door,  he  looked  up  and 
down,  and  then  up  again  to  the  long  one.  But,  as  a  thumb 


418  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

and  three  fingers  were  gone  from  his  left  hand,  with  two  from 
his  right,  while  all  one  side  of  his  face  was  ploughed  up  into  red 
ridges,  in  the  midst  of  which  there  was  a  scar  for  an  eye,  Joe 
did  not  recognize  him,  and  said,  rather  surlily,  "  Did  you 
inquire  for  me.  sir  ?  " 

"  Yes,  boy,  I  did  that.  But  you  look  as  how  you'd  like  to 
blow  me  up  ag'in  ;  yit  I  reckon  once  '11  du  for  Bill  Frink." 

"  Come  in,"  said  Joe,  giving  him  his  hand,  while  growing 
red ;  "  come  in,  and  do  not  talk  so  loud ;  there  is  a  person 
sick  in  the  house." 

As  he  entered,  Bill  said,  "  Then  the  boy  Joe  didn't  know 
his  brother  —  ha?  P'r'aps  he's  lost  some  of  his  beauty,  but 
he's  tough  yit." 

Hurrying  him  into  his  room,  and  closing  the  door,  the 
parson  replied,  "You  ought  to  be  thankful  that  it  was  no 
worse ;  you  are  a  monument  of  God's  sparing  mercy." 

"Now,  hadn't  ye  better  call  it  a  fragment?  But  I'll  re 
member  your  sentiment,  and  tell  it  to  one  o'  my  bloody  nig 
gers  when  I've  lathered  him  within  an  inch  of  his  life ;  I  will, 
by  thunder ! " 

"  It  is  a  very  fearful  thing  to  die,"  said  the  parson,  pro 
fessionally. 

"  Du  ye  never  kill  any  frogs  nowadays,  Joe  ?  " 

"  I  hope  that  I  have  changed  from  my  sinful  courses,  since, 
by  divine  aid,  I  put  off  the  depraved  nature  of  a  child." 

"  If  that's  so,  what  be  all  these  ere  chunks  of  stone  for  on 
this  shelf?  " 

"  Those  are  the  memorials  of  the  sacred  places  which  I 
visited  while  abroad." 

"  Now,  is  that  what  ye  call  comin'  home  with  a  pocket  full 
o'  rocks  ;  or  be  ye  afeard  ye  s'all  forgit  'em  ?  "  said  Bill,  nudg 
ing  Joe  with  his  thumb. 

"  No,  I  can  never  forget  them ;  for  they  are   very  great 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  419 

helps  to  religion,  with  many.  I  have  occasion  to  explain  and 
discourse  upon  them,  nearly  every  day,  to  some  one  of  my  flock. 
Even  those  Oriental  pipes  have  a  kind  of  devotional  odor." 

"  Wai,  I  shouldn't  wonder,  for  I  bow  down  a  leetle  in  that 
are  way  myself :  but  then  I  guess  I'll  take  one  of  these  ere 
cigars,  as  I  s'pose  it'll  amount  to  about  the  same  thing,  some 
how." 

"  Yes,  help  yourself,  and  pass  the  box  ;  I  think  that  it  may 
do  me  good  to  join  you." 

As  the  brother  complied  with  the  request,  Joe  exclaimed, 
"  What  a  hand  you  have  got,  Bill ! " 

"  It  ain't  quite  so  slick  a  flipper  to  swim  with  as  it  used  to 
be ;  but  I  rather  guess  Bill  can  keep  his  head  out  o'  water 
with  it  some  time  longer  yit."  And  lighting  his  cigar,  he  drew 
a  chair  near  to  an  open  window,  and  looking  out,  said,  "  A  real 
handsome  place  you've  got  here.  Whose  house  is  that  are  ?  " 

"  An  odd  old  stick  by  the  name  of  McRae  lives  there." 

"Rich,  I  reckon?"  said  Bill,  trying  to  wink  with  his 
blind  eye. 

"  Yes,  he  has  over  much  of  this  world's  goods  ;  yet  he  never 
comes  to  meeting  to  manifest  his  thankfulness  —  strange  that 
he  does  not  think  what  must  become  of  him  ! " 

"  What  cottage  is  that  are  down  yender,  with  the  pole- 
beans  a  runnin'  all  over  the  front  on't  ?  " 

"  Some  widow's,  I  think ;  but  I  do  not  know  her  name  — - 
she  does  not  attend  my  meeting." 

"  Has  that  old  McRae  got  any  gals  ? "  inquired  Bill,  with 
a  grin. 

"  He  has  one  daughter,  and  she  is  an  only  child." 

"  Now,  why  ain't  you  a  firin'  up  arter  her  ?  If  you  don't 
git  married  some  time  or  other,  I  reckon  as  how  I  s'all  have 
to  ;  for  it's  tu  good  blood  to  let  run  out  so ;  'tis,  by  thunder ! " 
Then,  having  finished  his  cigar,  he  took  out  a  small  flask,  and, 
holding  it  towards  Joe,  said,  "  Will  ye  smile  ?" 


420  THE     M  US  TEE,     OB 

To  which  invitation  the  parson,  with  a  motion  and  look  of 
disgust,  replied,  "I  do  not  desire  to  take  poison;  the  Lord 
deliver  me  from  that  sum  of  all  wickedness."  And  lighting 
another  cigar,  he  poured  the  fumes  around  him  while  appear 
ing,  and  probably  feeling,  as  though  he  had  been  caught  up 
into  the  clouds,  far  above  this  sinful  world. 

Hearing  him  through,  Bill  carried  the  bottle  to  his  own 
mouth,  and  trying  to  come  the  wink,  which  was  a  failure,  he 
grinned  once  more,  and  said,  "  Ye  look  to  me  as  though  ye 
carried  round  a  distillery  of  your  own,  Joe ;  now,  don't  ye 
keep  the  worm  putty  full  ?  But  I'd  say  jist  so,  if  I  was  in 
your  place  ;  I  would,  by  thunder  !  So,  here's  luck  ! "  Then 
the  bunch  in  his  throat  moved  up  and  down  many  times,  like 
a  polite  person  bowing  in  a  numerous  and  rapidly  arriving 
company  ;  so  that,  when  he  drew  the  "  willow "  away  from  his 
mouth,  and  shook  it  at  his  ear,  he  looked  sorry. 

As  it  grew  dark,  Bill,  getting  up,  said,  "  I  reckon  it's  time 
for  me  to  be  ridin'  back  to  York." 

"  You  make*  me  a  short  visit,"  said  Joe,  with  a  pleasure  that 
he  could  not  quite  conceal. 

"  0,  ye  needn't  hope  to  dodge  me  so ;  for  I'm  comin'  out 
here  next  Sunday  to  hear  ye  spout.  I  wants  to  see  what  col 
lege  can  du  for  a  Frink." 

So  they  separated  ;  and,  when  the  door  closed  between  them, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Frink  felt  elated  and  relieved ;  for  he  had  trem 
bled  at  the  recollection  of  the  "seal"  of  Park,  when  Bill 
spoke  of  the  cottage,  and  feared,  during  every  minute  of  his 
stay  afterwards,  that  something  would  lead  to  the  subject 
again. 

Yet,  while  Bill  was  moving  down  the  street,  he  said  to 
himself,  "  O,  no,  don't  know  her  !  hasn't  heard  her  name  ! 
P'r'aps  I've  found  a  Frink  what  ain't  for  s'archin'  into  sich 
things  —  p'r'aps  I  haven't  —  we'll  take  a  squint  jist  out  o' 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  421 

cur'osity."  So,  turning  down  a  lane,  he  reached  the  side  of 
the  cottage  garden,  where,  finding  a  place  through  which  he 
could  pass  without  much  difficulty,  he  entered ;  and  seeing  a 
light  shining  from  the  rear  window  of  the  house,  he  cautiously 
approached  to  find  it  half  curtained,  so  that  he  could  see  no 
one  therein  with  any  distinctness,  although  the  shadow  of  a 
female  form  moved  frequently  across  the  screen. 

Withdrawing  a  few  paces,  he  seized  the  limbs  of  a  tree  in 
his  broken  claws,  and  drew  himself  up  to  the  point  from  which 
Fred  had  cried,  "  Land,  ho ! "  where,  with  a  sense  of  suffoca 
tion,  he  saw  Flora,  with  a  knife  in  her  hand,  preparing  the 
evening  meal,  and  a  boy  sitting  by  the  fire.  Gazing  there, 
half  breathless,  he  heard  the  door  open  ;  and  then  a  man 
stepped  out,  who,  walking  down,  paused  to  glance  up  into  the 
tree  in  which  Bill  watched ;  but,  apparently  seeing  nothing 
unusual,  he  passed  on  and  looked  at  other  trees. 

While  the  person  was  away  Bill  felt  for  his  bowie  knife, 
saying  to  himself,  "  P'r'aps  old  Frink  is  treed  at  last ;  but 
they  can't  take  him  alive  no  how,  by  thunder !  though  he'll 
lay  low  for  a  minute,  and  let  them  bark  fust ; "  when,  looking 
up,  he  saw  a  young  lady,  with  a  bonnet  on,  come  into  the 
kitchen,  who  spoke  to  Flora  and  kissed  Fred.  Upon  which 
the  mustee  opened  the  door,  and,  peering  out  into  the  dark, 
said,  "  Where  are  you  ?  I  want  yon  a  moment" 

The  person  called  replied,  "  I  am  corning ; "  when,  walk 
ing  up,  he  again  paused  by  the  tree  on  which  Frink  was 
perched ;  and,  spreading  open  the  low,  hanging  branches, 
looked  up  into  the  foliage  —  but  turning  away  soon,  he  entered 
the  house  and  closed  the  door. 

Upon  this,  Bill  descended  from  his   observatory  in   haste 

and  trepidation,  and  scrambling  through  the  live  fence,  he 

stumbled  over  a  rock  into  the  road,  thus  meeting  it  face  to 

face  ;  but  thinking  that  he  had  the  worst  of  it  in  the  encounter, 

36 


422  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

he  gathered  himself  up,  and,  while  muttering  curses,  limped 
away  as  fast  as  possible  to  the  stable,  and,  mounting  his  horse, 
took  the  road  to  the  city.  When  he  was  well  out  of  the  vil 
lage,  he  drew  forth  his  flask,  and,  tipping  off  what  remained  of 
the  contents,  said,  "  Old  Bill  knows  a  leetle  somethin'  if  he 
hasn't  been  to  college ;  and  I  guess  his  scent  is  putty  good 
yit :  at  any  rate  he  don't  knock  under  to  ministers  in  that  are 
line,  no  how,  by  thunder  ! " 

On  reaching  the  city,  Bill  had  a  social  glass  or  two,  but 
retired  quite  sober,  for  he  felt  that  the  business  of  the  morrow 
required  that  he  should  be  cool  and  wary.  When  he  arose, 
however,  he  made  it  his  first  business  to  call  on  Mr.  Mixer,  of 
the  bar ;  and  after  he  had  taken  his  somewhat  late  breakfast, 
and  made  that  gentleman  another  call,  he  beckoned  to  the 
landlord,  inquired  for  a  United  States  commissioner,  and 
was  directed  to  the  office  of  Mr.  Featherstone,  as  the  hotel 
keeper  had  some  of  that  lawyer's  cards  and  one  of  his  notes 
of  hand. 

Finding  Featherstone  alone,  Bill  intimated  the  nature  of 
his  business,  and,  ascertaining  that  the  commissioner  was 
ready  to  act,  said,  "  Now  if  ye  undertake  this  ere  job,  squire,  I 
want  ye  to  draw  your  papers  with  all  your  might ;  for  I  ex 
pect  there'll  be  some  flutterin'  and  floppin'  afore  I  git  'em 
back  into  the  cage.  And  I  know  about  how  the  thing's  to  be 
worked  myself,  as  I  talked  it  all  over  with  my  lawyer  afore  I 
took  up  the  track  ;  so,  to  start  with,  my  name's  Bill  Frink, 
from  New  Orleans ;  and  when  you've  writ  that  are  down  I'll 
tell  ye  some  more." 

Having  minuted  the  name  and  residence,  Featherstone  said, 
"  Now  their  names/' 

"  The  servants'  names  (he  said  how  I'd  as  goods  call  'em 
servants,  while  I  was  round  here)  is  Flora  and  Fred,  woman 
and  child,  and  a'most  white  at  that ;  but,  allowin'  they  be  nig- 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  423 

f 

gers,  I  want  ye  to  understand  that  they're  jist  the  highest 
priced  color  in  the  market.  Who  ye  lookin'  at  ?  why  don't 
ye  put  down  them  are  names  ?  ye  goin'  to  try  to  remember 
'em  ?  " 

Recovering  from  his  surprise,  Featherstone  wrote  down  the 
names,  and  inquired,  in  an  indifferent  tone,  "  Are  the  fugitives 
in  the  city  ?  " 

"  O,  they're  within  your  beat,  squire ;  and  p'r'aps  that's 
.enough  for  ye  to  larn  now;  but  Bill  has  seen  'em,  and  seen 
'em  flouishin' ;  and  he  kind  o'  aches  to  git  a  pull  at  their  roots, 
'cause  he  wants  to  transplant  'em  to  a  hotter  climate,  so  they'll 
bloom  out  'arlier." 

"  It  may  be  that,  when  we  have  caused  them  to  be  arrested, 
there  will  be  an  effort,  on  the  part  of  the  fanatics,  to  purchase 
their  freedom." 

"  They  ain't  for  sale ;  as  they're  particular  favorites  in  my 
family,  and  they'd  be  enough  sight  better  on't  there,  'cause  we 
all  liked  'em  ever  so  much,  and  was  terrible  sorry  when  they 
left ;  and  I  was  cooped  up  in  my  room  a  mighty  long  spell  on 
account  on't.  I  tell  ye,  squire,  when  master  and  servant  part 
in  that  are  way,  they're  both  apt  to  feel  bad  afore  it's  over. 
You  men  here,  in  the  cold  north,  have  no  notion  how  strong 
we're  linked  to  one  'nother.  Now  ye  see,  squire,  its  goin'  to 
cost  me  a  heap  o'  money  to  git  them  things  back  —  a  sight  more 
nor  any  smart  judge  will  prize  'em  at ;  and  why  du  I  go  it,  if 
'tain't  for  their  good  ?  " 

"  How  long  have  you  been  the  owner  of  the  fugitives,  Mr. 
Frink?" 

"  I've  owned  'em  jist  long  enough  to  git  mighty  fond  on  'em, 
and  not  long  enough  to  forgit  what  they  cost." 

"  Who  was  their  previous  owner  ?  " 

"  Du  ye  mean  previous  afore,  squire  ?  " 

"  Yes,  the  last  owner  before  you." 


424  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

"There,  squire,  that's  the  very  thing  I'd  like  to  worm  out  — 
I  should,  by  thunder  !  But,  any  how,  the  rascal  what  jewed 
me  hails  from  this  here  city,  and  he  helped  'em  to  run,  for 
they'd  never  dug  off  so  if  somebody  hadn't  told  'em.  Now, 
ye  see,  if  I  can  once  git  'em  home,  I  can  coax  her  to  tell  me 
who  'twas  ;  and  when  I  find  out,  I  shall  come  on  here  ag'in, 
and  p'r'aps  I  may  want  ye  to  defend  me  ag'in  the  law ;  for  I 
shall  mount  him !  I  shall  tumble  down  on  him  like  a  thousand 
o'  brick  —  I  shall,  by  thunder  !  Ye  may  be  sure  on't,  squire, 
for  Bill  allers  pays  what  he  owes.  I  want  ye  to  understand 
that  he's  considered  about  as  ready  a  settler  as  you  can  scare 
up  any  where,  or  any  how." 

"  Have  you  any  persons  with  you  who  can  identify  the 
property  ?  " 

"  How,  squire  ?  " 

"I  say,"  explained  Featherstone,  "is  there  any  one  here 
who  knows  the  fugitives  ?  " 

"  0,  yes,  we've  got  a  large  invoice  jist  arriv,  and  they're  at 
the  house  I  stop  at  tu  ;  and  one  on  'em's  name  is  Rutledge,  a 
lawyer ;  and  another's  a  flash  chap  they  call  Carlo,  and  he 
ain't  a  dog  nuther.  And  they're  both  from  Orleans,  and  will 
back  up  hard  for  the  good  o'  their  country.  They're  Uncle 
Sam's  folks,  you  may  bet  on't,  by  thunder  !  " 

"  What  is  the  age  of  the  woman  ?  " 

"  Wai,  I  reckon  she's  about  five  or  six  and  twenty  —  ye 
may  call  her  that  much,  and  resk  it,  squire  ;  and  the  boy's 
'twixt  five  and  six  —  and  I  guess  them's  all  the  p'ints  that 
want  explainin',  squire." 

"  I  believe  that  you  have  given  me  all  the  important  facts." 

"  I  should  ruther  guess  as  how  I  had ;  and  now  I'd  like  to 
know  when  I  can  have  them  papers." 

"  I  can  leave  them  at  your  hotel  as  soon  as  they  are  drawn 
out  —  which  will  be  before  the  sun  sets,  certainly." 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  425 

"  Wai,  that  '11  be  'arly  enough  ;  for  I  likes  night  work,  any 
how,  'cause  I  want  to  put  these  ere  tender  claws  round  'em 
while  they're  sleepin' ;  then  when  they  wakes  up  there  '11 
be  such  a  lovin'  meetin'  of  old  cronies  as  ye  don't  often  light 
on ;  and  mebby  she'll  be  so  anxious  to  go  back  to  her  coop 
that  I  shan't  ask  for  no  more  o'  your  help.  But  ye  needn't 
look  so  scared,  squire,  for  here's  your  ten  dollars." 

As  Featherstone  took  the  proffered  fee,  Bill  said,  "  Now  I 
shall  expect  ye  to  propel  jist  as  strong,  squire,  as  though  ye 
hadn't  got  it."  So,  going  out,  he  went  over  to  his  hotel  to 
make  another  call  on  Mr.  Mixer ;  and  being  pleased  with  his 
flow  of  spirits  he  remained  with  him  until  dinner  time.  At 
that  hour,  feeling  the  thing  to  be  going  gayly  on,  he  called  for 
a  bottle  of  wine  at  the  table,  and  had  a  very  pleasant  time,  all 
by  himself. 

On  coming  out  of  the  hall  he  saw  a  person  whom  he  thought 
an  acquaintance  ;  and,  feeling  quite  talkative,  he  gave  him  a 
little  nearer  look,  when,  putting  out  his  fragment  of  a  hand, 
he  said,  "  How  are  ye,  Captain  Elery  ?  " 

Elery  took  the  two  fingers  which  Bill  offered,  and,  looking 
at  him,  said,  "Your  hail  is  familiar,  but  I  don't  know  the 
craft.  What  may  be  your  name  and  port  ?  " 

"  I  don't  wonder  ye  can't  make  her  out,  for  she  was  blown 
up  arter  you  saw  her,  and  they  couldn't  find  all  the  pieces  ;  so 
we  had  to  patch  her  up  without  'em ;  but  I  guess  Bill  Frink 
is  seaworthy  yet." 

"  Is  that  a  fact  ?  why,  you  look  as  though  you  had  been 
filibustering  with  Lopez  !  Then  this  is  all  there  is  left  of  the 
sharp  who  outwitted  me  in  a  dog  trade,  is  it?  Come  into 
the  parlor,  and  tell  me  how  those  hounds  turned  out !  You 
must  have  had  some  exciting  chases  with  them  before  this 
time  ?  " 

"  Say  one,  and  bet  high  on  it,"  Bill  replied.  "  I  never  had 
36* 


426  THE    MUSTEE  ,    OR 

on'y  one  right  'arnest  hunt  with  them  are  clogs  ;  but  that 
was  a  ripper !  and  they  died  game  —  they  did,  by  thun 
der  ! " 

"  How  was  it  ?  "  inquired  Elery,  as  they  took  seats. 

"  Wai,  it  was  this  way :  you  see  I'd  bought  a  light-colored 
darkie,  for  fun,  —  you  understand,  —  and  she  sot  out  to  run. 
So  we  found  her  tracks,  and  them  dogs,  O,  they  took  'em 
beautiful !  and  never  lost  'em  once  in  the  whole  hunt ;  but 
when  we  reckoned  as  how  we  had  'em  sure,  we  broke  out  o' 
the  bush  right  on  to  the  levee,  and  there  them  hounds  was, 
fetched  up  all  a  stan'in' ! " 

"Had  she  jumped  overboard?"  asked  Elery,  apparently 
astonished. 

"  No  ;  they'd  got  onto  a  damned  abolition  ship ;  and  though 
they'd  sailed  more  nor  a  half  a  mild  away,  them  dogs  snuffed 
'em  that  fur  ;  and  I  guess  they  heard  me  swear  tu.  Then  we 
rode  back  to  Orleans,  and  took  a  tug  and  blazed  away  arter 
'em  like  thunder ;  and  afore  night  we  made  'em  out ;  and  then 
we  strained  every  peg  to  overhaul  her,  but  she  sailed  like  a 
pirate.  So,  ye  see,  it  was  dark  as  a  nigger's  pocket  afore  we 
fetched  her ;  and  then  we  couldn't  quite,  for  it  grew  rough  ; 
but  we  piled  in  the  pine  knots  and  the  rosum,  and  we'd  have 
jumped. right  on  to  her  in  three  minutes,  if  them  hounds 
hadn't  broke  loose.  They'd  been  a  whinin'  a'most  all  the 
way,  for,  ye  see,  they  smelt  niggers — -and  rushed  bellerin' 
for'ard  and  down  stairs,  where  they  throttled  the  ingineer 
and  a  fireman  ;  and  afore  we  could  break  up  the  row,  any 
way,  the  b'iler  bu'st ;  and  a'most  all  on  us  as  went  up,  ye  see, 
didn't  come  down  ag'in  on'y  in  pieces ;  and  them  dogs  went 
under,  tu,  in  the  scrape,  and  so  I  lost  'em." 

"  It  must  have  been  rather  a  rough  time ;  and  you  were 
lucky  not  to  get  both  of  your  binnacle  lamps  put  out." 

"  It  dowst  one,  and  kind  o'  joggled  down  the  wick  of  t'other 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  427 

a  leetle,  I  reckon  ;  but  not  quite  fur  enough  to  stop  me  from 
spyin'  her  last  night,  any  how." 

"But  you  don't  mean  to  say  that  she  is  any  where  in  this 
region  !  " 

"  If  I  didn't  climb  a  tree  and  peak  into  her  nest  last  night, 
you  may  sell  me  for  a  nigger ;  and  while  I  was  thar,  the  man 
what  lives  with  her  —  I  guess  'twas  him,  for  they  seemed  kind 
o'  thick  —  bolted  out  and  squinted  up  where  I  was,  and  I  felt 
for  my  knife.  But  arter  a  minute  or  so  he  hauled  off,  and 
staid  till  she  hollered  to  him.  And  when  he  come  back  he 
give  my  roost  another  s'arch,  and  then  turned  away  jist  as  if 
he  was  arter  his  gun ;  so  I  dumb  right  down  and  left.  But 
I  want  ye  to  understand  Bill  ain't  bluffed  off  so.  He'll  see 
her  ag'in  to-night,  and  then  he'll  have  the  papers  what'll  knock 
her  hand  and  pile  tu,  or  else  he'll  give  in  that  he  don't  know 
nothin'  about  cards." 

"  What  do  you  intend  to  do  with  her  ?  " 

"Du  with  her!"  echoed  Bill,  holding  out  his  hands;  "I 
want  to  see  if  I  can  cut  meat  enough  out  on  her  to  mend  them 
things." 

"  Would  you  punish  her  for  loving  and  seeking  liberty  ? 
You  should  remember  that  you  are  a  republican,  and  that  she 
may  have  aspired  after  the  privileges  of  the  free,  by  seeing 
what  a  blessing  they  were  to  you.  Would  you  stifle  the  hope 
of  freedom  in  one  who  had  so  learned  it  ?  "  * 

"  O,  no ;  but  I  may  cut  her  up  a  leetle  for  takin'  away  my 
freedom.  Ye  see,  I  was  shet  up  a'most  tu  long  by  her  freak, 
and  p'r'aps  I  didn't  enjoy  it  particular.  Now,  captain,  shouldn't 
ye  love  to  go  out  and  jist  help  me  corner  her  ?  It'll  be  fun  ; 
it  will,  by  thunder  ! " 

"About  what  time  do  you  intend  to  take  the  castle  and 
^cize  the  goods?" 

"  Wai,  not  till  arter  midnight ;  for,  ye  see,  I  want  the  town 


428  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

to  git  still ;  and  ye  know  we  can't  go  on  with  the  case,  here, 
afore  mornin',  any  how." 

"  I  think  that  would  be  rather  a  late  hour  for  me ;  yet  I 
may  conclude  to  go,  for  I  believe  that  I  could  take  her  so  easy 
that  you  would  be  surprised  when  you  found  it  done." 

"  I  want  ye  to  understand  I'm  some  at  that ;  and  I  asked  ye 
to  go  along  jist  'cause  I'd  like  for  ye  to  see  how  I  work  in  that 
sort  o'  harness." 

"  Well,  if  I  fall  in  with  you  in  the  course  of  the  evening 
you  may  rely  on  me  to  do  any  thing  in  the  case  that  any  man 
ought  to  do  ;  and,  on  the  whole,  I  think  that  I  shall  go." 

"  That's  the  talk ;  and  we'll  have  a  rum  time  when  we  git 
round  her." 

On  this  they  separated. 

It  was  not  long  before  Bill  went  down  to  call  on  his  friend 
Mixer.  But,  after  a  time,  feeling  refreshed  by  his  social  ways, 
he  returned  to  the  office,  where,  on  inquiry,  he  found  his 
papers,  and  requested  the  host  to  send  out  for  an  officer. 

When  that  person  came,  Bill  made  him  acquainted  with  his 
business,  and  thereupon  they  agreed  to  meet  at  eleven  o'clock, 
and  go  on  the  expedition.  Then,  as  a  matter  of  politeness, 
Bill  invited  the  officer  into  the  bar  room,  and  to  the  acquaint 
ance  of  that  spirit  which  enters  in  to  charm,  yet  all  too  fre 
quently  remains  to  defile  or  to  destroy.  How  apparently 
kind,  but  how  deplorable  in  consequence,  to  those  who  lack 
self-control  and  have  constitutional  proclivities  to  its  abuse ! 
How  many  a  glorious  eye  has  it  dimmed,  how  many  a  noble 
form  has  it  cast  down,  until  it  seemed  a  mercy  when  the  grave 
opened  to  shroud  them  from  averted  eyes ! 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  429 


CHAPTER    XLII. 

While  amid  the  world's  delights, 
How  warm  soe'er  we  feel  a  moment  among  them, 
We  find  ourselves,  when  the  hot  blast  hath  blown, 
Prostrate,  and  weak,  and  wretched,  even  as  I  am. 

FESTUS. 

IT  was  nearly  sunset  when  Elery  parted  from  Bill ;  and, 
going  out  of  the  hotel,  he  took  his  Way  immediately  to  the 
Muse. 

As  he  reached  the  head  of  the  slip  in  which  his  ship  lay, 
he  met  Jack,  who  was  then  second  mate,  dressed  up,  and 
hailed  him  with,  "  Where  are  you  bound  ?  " 

"  No  where  in  particular,  sir ;  only  a  short  cruise." 

"  Then  lay  to  here,  a  minute,  while  I  speak  to  Francis." 
So  leaving,  he  went  rapidly  on  board.  But,  before  Jack  had- 
got  well  seated  on  the  cap-log,  he  returned,  and,  without  pans- 
ing,  said,  "  Come  with  me." 

As  they  turned  up  street,  Jack  fell  into  the  captain's  wake ; 
on  which  Elery  said,  "  Draw  up  alongside ;  for  I  have  some 
thing  to  tell  you." 

So  Jack  hauled  out  and  came  up  abreast,  when  Elery  said, 
"  The  man  who  claims  to  own  Flora  and  her  child  is  on  here  for 
the  purpose  of  forcing  them  back  into  slavery." 

"  Who  ?  Bill  Frinkj     What  can  he  do  on  that  tack  ?  " 

"  He  can  do  much ;  for  he  has  discovered  where  they  are 
by  some  means ;  and  a  law  has  been  enacted  which  will  be  a 
bloody  weapon  in  such  hands.  Now,  what  I  want  of  you  is, 
to  follow  the  devil,  and  stick  to  him  through  the  night ;  and 
contrive  to  keep  him  in  the  city,  if  possible.  But  be  sure  and 


430  THE     M  US  TEE,     OR 

track  him  close,  as  I  shall  reckon  on  your  arm ;  so  you  must 
take  horses  when  he  takes  horses,  and  keep  within  striking  dis 
tance,  as  we  may  meet  on  the  road." 

Having  arrived  nearly  to  the  hotel,  Elery,  pointing  to  the 
building,  added,  "  Frink  is  in  there.  He  has  only  one  eye, 
and  parts  of  both  hands  are  gone  ;  for,  you  know,  he  has 
been  blown  up  since  you  saw  him ;  but  you  can  easily  make 
him  out." 

"  If  that's  his  course  I'll  overhaul  him,  and  hold  the  weather 
gage,  too,  or  I'll  never  steer  another  trick." 

"  He's  a  keen  one,"  said  Elery,  as  he  left  Jack ;  "  so  you 
must  keep  a  sharp  lookout." 

"  I'll  try  to  lay  along  on  his  blind  side,"  replied  the  sailor. 
Soon  after  he  entered  the  bar  room  of  the  hotel,  where  Frink 
was  drinking  and  getting  noisy.  Calling  for  a  glass  himself, 
he  took  a  seat  by  one  of  the  marble  tables,  and,  taking  up  a 
newspaper,  appeared  to  be  busy  with  his  own  affairs.  Yet  his 
thoughts  were  of  Bill  and  those  whom  he  was  hunting  down ; 
consequently  his  eye  would  frequently  seek  and  fix  sharply 
upon  him,  to  turn  away  with  -a  feeling  of  defiance  or  disgust, 
though  Bill  did  not  notice  it,  as  he  was  in  his  element,  being 
surrounded  by  the  "  suckers  "  who  usually  hang  about  drink 
ing  places  to  pander  to  the  vices,  and  sponge  their  living  from 
the  careless  prodigality  of  the  intoxicated. 

But  there  was  one  who  had  kept  partly  clear  of  the  revel 
—  although  he  stood  in  the  group  and  seemed  of  them  — 
whose  business  it  was  to  observe  and  infer.  This  was  the 
officer ;  and,  drawing  Bill  one  side,  into  an  adjoining  apart 
ment,  he  said,  "  I  am  afraid  that  your  affair  is  slipping  through 
your  fingers,  and  we  had  better  be  moving  at  once  if  you  wish 
to  succeed." 

"  I  s'pose  ye  reckon  I'm  gittin'  drunk  ;  but  you'll  find  me  all 
the  sharper  for  that  are ;  ye  will,  by  thunder !  " 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  431 

"  I  think  you  are  watched,  and  may  be  outwitted." 

"  Who  in  hell  dares  to  dog  me  ?  Show  me  the  man,  and  I'll 
give  him  a  lively  whirl ! " 

*  I  can  show  you,  if  you  will  try  to  keep  quiet,  and  have  not 
already  disturbed  him.  I  have  been  observing  him  ever  since 
he  called  for  liquor,  which  he  has  not  drank  a  drop  of,  but  sits 
looking  over  a  newspaper ;  and  if  you  will  slyly  notice  him, 
you  must  come  to  my  conclusion." 

But  Jack  was  awake  as  well  as  the  officer ;  and,  seeing  the 
movement,  he  caught  enough  of  the  conversation  to  learn  that 
the  outside  of  the  house  might  be  the  safest,  besides  being 
equally  good  for  his  purpose  ;  for  if  Frink  remained  it  was 
well,  and  if  he  came  out  he  could  be  as  easily  distinguished, 
and  more  quickly  followed. 

Consequently,  when  they  returned,  Jack  had  gone  ;  and,  on 
going  up  to  the  table,  they  found  his  glass  empty.  There 
upon  Bill  laughed  at  the  officer,  and  said,  "  Ye  see  he  swal- 
ler'd  his  rum  afore  he  left ;  and  I'm  dry  ;  so  I  reckon  I'll  take 
a  smile  with  you  on  this  ere." 

"  But  there  is  the  place  where  he  poured  his  liquor,"  per 
sisted  the  officer,  looking  under  the  table ;  "  so  I  am  now  cer 
tain  that  he  was  watching  you,  and,  hearing  some  of  your 
loud  words,  thought  it  best  to  escape  from  scrutiny ;  therefore, 
if  you  wish  to  accomplish  your  purpose,  you  haven't  a  minute 
to  lose." 

At  length  Bill  perceived  that  it  might  be  so ;  and,  turning 
to  two  or  three,  who  appeared  to  be  his  particular  admirers, 
said,  "  Gentlemen,  I've  got  to  be  off,  a  few  hours,  on  a  leetle 
scout ;  but,  if  you'll  jist  hold  on  here  till  I  git  back,  we'll  have 
one  of  the  times  ;  we'll  set  'em  high  ;  we  will,  by  thunder ! " 

On  this,  the  persons  addressed  having  signified  that  he 
would  find  them  on  hand  for  any  thing,  Bill  and  the  officer 
went  out ;  and,  taking  a  hackney  coach,  Frink,  speaking  low 


432  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

to  the  driver  as  he  closed  the  door,  said,  "  To  Greenville  ;  and 
stir  lively  now,  if  ye  want  double  pay  for  the  job." 

The  horses  were  fresh  and  fleet,  and,  so  stimulated,  the 
driver  put  them  to  their  work.  But  the  noise  of  the  rapid 
motion  seemed  to  lull  Bill,  so  that  his  neck  became  limber 
very  soon  after  they  started,  and  pointed  his  hat  lower,  lower, 
lower  towards  one  window,  when,  with  a  loud  snore,  he  re 
coiled  and  brought  the  hat  to  bear  lower,  lower,  lower  on  the 
opposite  port ;  then  the  discharge  and  rebound  were  such  that 
he  surged  back  and  doubled  into  one  corner  of  the  carriage ; 
where,  for  more  than  an  hour,  he  kept  up  the  fire  seemingly 
without  aim  or  object,  other  than  to  burn  his  powder.  After 
a  while,  however,  he  appeared  to  be  using  smaller  cartridges, 
or  else  his  ammunition  had  become  damp,  —  although  no  water 
was  ever  allowed  near  the  magazine,  —  so  that,  at  length,  it 
merely  fizzling  out,  he  awoke.  Yet  it  took  him  some  time  to 
call  into  order  all  his  drunken  and  somnolent  senses  ;  but 
when  he  did,  finally,  arouse  them,  the  remaining  minutes  of 
the  ride  were  devoted  to  arrangements. 

"  I  wish  we  had  another  man  along,"  said  Bill ;  "  two  is 
hardly  help  enough  without  we  can  ketch  her  nappin',  for 
she'll  use  cold  steel." 

"  You  may  keep  out  of  her  reach,  if  you  have  any  fears, 
after  you  have  pointed  her  out  to  me,"  replied  the  officer. 

Arriving  on  the  edge  of  the  village,  Bill  checked  the  coach, 
when  the  driver  drew  up  to  the  side  of  the  road,  a  few  rods 
from  the  corner  of  the  street  on  which  the  cottage  stood ;  and, 
as  they  were  alighting,  Frink  said,  "  Don't  leave  your  team, 
skipper ;  for  we  s'all  be  back  in  a  few  shakes  with  a  woman 
and  child,  and  p'r'aps  we  may  be  in  a  tearin'  hurry." 

When  Elery  parted  from  Jack  he  procured  a  barouche  and 
pair,  and  took  the  reins  and  the  road,  at  a  round  pace,  for 
Greenville.  But  before  he  reached  the  place  the  horses 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  433 

became  wearj,  and  required  so  much  urging  as  to  make  a 
dark  prospect  for  a  speedy  return;  yet  he  cheered  himself 
with  the  thought  that  there  was  ample  time,  as  Bill  would 
not  leave  until  nearly  midnight.  So  thinking,  he  slowly 
turned  the  corner,  and  drove  under  a  shed  which  was  attached 
to  a  store  that  stood  there  ;  when,  walking  out  and  approach 
ing  the  cottage,  he  saw  Annie  just  coming  through  the  gate 
way,  and  greeting  her,  said,  "  I  am  very  glad  to  find  you  here, 
Miss  McRae." 

"  And  so  late,  too !     I  was  just  going  home,"  she  replied. 

"  But  I  wish  you  to  return  to  Flora  a  moment,  if  it  be 
late." 

"  Why,  what  has  happened  that  can  so  change  your  voice  ?  " 

"  Not  much  has,  yet  much  may  happen,  and  that  soon  —  our 
friends  must  fly ;  for  the  hunters  are  once  more  on  their  trail, 
and  are  intending  to  take  them  from  this  house  before 
morning." 

"  Is  there  no  method  of  protecting  them  here  ?  " 

"No,  neither  she  nor  all  who  sympathize  with  her  can 
openly  face  this  foe  with  any  hope  of  victory ;  for  he  comes 
in  the  name  of  the  law." 

"  What  a  loyal  people  we  are,  to  so  respect  enactments ! 
Still,  in  that  spirit,  when  reform  shall  come,  lies  the  hope  of 
duration." 

"  True.  Yet  how  hard  to  forbear  a  blow,  even  when  we 
know  that  what  has  its  foundation  on  reason  is  wisest,  surest, 
and  most  fatally  overthrown  by  the  same  weapon.  Will  you 
come  in  with  me  and  break  the  news  to  Flora  ?  "  . 

"  Yes ;  in  with  you  and  away  with  you,  any  where  you 
wish,  if  I  can  help  to  save  or  cheer  them." 

"  We  will  see ;  yet  you  must  not  come  near  danger." 

As  they  ascended  the  steps  Flora  came  to  the  door,  for  she 
had  recognized  their  voices  ;  and,  ushering  them  in,  said,  "  I 
37 


434  THE    M US TEE,    OR 

had  given  up  the  idea  of  seeing  you  before  another  night ; 
yet  I  am  very  glad  you  have  come,  for  we  were  sad  ;  and  it 
seemed  as  though  the  wind  sought  to  make  us  more  so  —  it 
has  sounded,  all  the  evening,  as  if  it  mourned  for  something, 
or  strove  to  utter  a  warning." 

"  It  was  mourning  over  our  separation,"  said  Annie,  when 
the  tears  started  to  her  eyes  and  sorrow  overspread  her  face. 

Through  this,  the  fugitive  perceived  it  all ;  and,  looking  up 
to  the  captain,  she  inquired,  "  Must  it  be  —  has  the  hour 
come  ?  " 

"  I  fear  that  this  is  no  longer  a  place  of  refuge.  So  the 
sooner  we  leave  it  the  safer  we  may  be.  I  will  take  Fred  out 
to  the  carriage,  and  you  —  collecting  only  such  things  as  are 
really  necessary  —  come  down  to  the  store  with  Annie ;  when 
we  will  soon  learn  if  the  Muse  can  still  afford  you  a  secure 
shelter." 

But  a  few  minutes  elapsed  before  they  were  all  under  the 
shed,  when  Annie  said,  "  I  must  go  with  you,  for  I  can  do 
something ;  and  I  would  rather  meet  what  you  meet,  be  it 
what  it  may,  than  remain  here  inactive  to  imagine  the  worst." 

"  I  have  strong  arms,  near  the  invader,  which  will  strike 
home  if  the  hour  of  need  come,"  interposed  Elery ;  "  while 
you  can  do  good  service  here,  and  we  may  gather  force  from 
the  thought  that  you,  at  least,  are  safe.  You  shall  learn  some 
thing  of  the  night  by  the  morning's  mail ;  and,  if  it  be  in  my 
power,  I  will  see  you  before  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening. 
Hark ! "  And  listening,  he  heard  a  carriage  rapidly  ap 
proaching,  .which,  in  a  moment,  drew  up  just  beyond  the  store, 
when  he  added,  in  a  whisper,  "  Go  round  on  the  other  side  of 
the  carriage  —  quick  ! " 

As  they  stood  there,  close  and  silent  in  the  dense  darkness, 
two  men  came  up ;  and  one  of  them,  halting,  said,  "  Here's  a 
pair  of  horses ;  he's  ahead  of  you ;  hold  on  while  I  cut  the 
harnesses." 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  435 

"  Keep  still—  can't  ye  !  "  was  the  reply,  in  a  voice  that  both 
the  fugitive  and  Elery  knew  to  be  Frink's.  "  That's  the  house  ; 
don't  ye  see  the  glim  through  the  winder  ?  they  haven't  run, 
and  if  they're  gittin'  ready  to,  we'll  sly  back  and  give  the 
leather  a  rippin'.  Come  on  !  " 

The  officer,  in  the  mean  time,  had  approached  so  near  that 
he  caught  the  faint  outlines  of  female  forms  ;  but,  on  the 
instant,  something  cried  through  his  heart  that  he  was  made 
to  shield  and  cherish  such :  so  his  eyes  grew  dim ;  and,  turn 
ing,  he  followed  Frink.  Yes,  it  was  the  quick  impulse  of  an 
Anglo-Saxon  soul ;  an  instinct  that  may  save  the  race  from 
the  fate  of  all  which  have  gone  before  —  for  gentleness  to 
woman  is  the  undying  glory  of  her  knights,  the  grace  of  their 
deeds,  the  perfume  of  their  memories. 

In  another  minute  Jack  came  stealthily  after ;  but  a  low- 
spoken  word  from  the  captain  arrested  and  turned  him  under 
the  shed. 

"  This  is  close  work,"  said  Elery ;  "  and  we  must  make  for 
your  carriage,  Jack  :  these  horses  have  broken  down." 

"  But  my  horses  are  no  match  for  theirs  ;  we  had  to  run  to 
keep  way  with  their  trot.  And  if  we  pass  their  carriage  the 
driver  will  see  us  ;  so,  as  soon  as  he  could  make  signal,  we 
should  be  chased  and  overhauled.  "  I  don't  mind  that  though, 
if  you  say  the  word,  for  we  shall  be  two  to  two  if  they  lay  us 
alongside." 

"  Then  there  is  nothing  left  for  us  but  to  seize  their  car 
riage  ;  which  I  think  can  be  done,  if  we  go  boldly  to  the  work  ; 
and  you  must  go  with  us  a  little  way,  Jack,  so  the  coachman 
may  see  that  there  are  two  men." 

"We  can  do  it!  and  if  the  driver  makes  any  fuss  I'll 
straighten  him  and  take  the  helm,"  said  Jack. 

& 

"  Come,  Annie,  let  me  help  you  into  this  barouche ;  and, 
when  you  hear  us  start,  drive  up  by  the  cottage  to  your 


436  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

father's  house,  so  that  the  sound  of  these  wheels  may  prevent 
their  hearing  ours."  Pressing  her  hand  in  the  friendly  dark 
ness,  Elery  felt  a  tear  fall  upon  his,  which  thrilled  him  with 
emotion  as  deep  as  that  which  shook  Conrad,  when  he  saw  the 
single  drop  of  blood  on  the  forehead  of  Gulnare,  and  by  it 
he  was  drawn  to  her  as  strongly  as  that  repelled  the  corsair ; 
yet  he  whispered,  "  Adieu ;  and,  whatsoever  happens,  we  can 
never  forget  you." 

Flora  and  Annie  exchanged  a  kiss  in  silence.  So  parting, 
the  fugitives  stole  out  by  the  store,  and  approached  the  car 
riage  of  Frink  at  a  quick  pace.  But,  as  they  were  entering 
with  all  confidence,  the  driver  inquired,  "Where's  the  big 
man  ?  " 

"  He  will  be  following  us  soon,"  replied  Elery ;  "  there  is 
another  coach  in  waiting,  just  back,  to  bring  up  the  rear ;  so 
now  for  the  city.  You  drove  well  coming  out,  and  you  shall 
have  ten  dollars  extra  if  you  reach  Trinity  Church  in  an  hour 
and  a  half." 

On  this  the  driver,  mounting  his  box,  drew  rein  without 
further  question.  And  while  he  was  turning  his  horses  Elery 
softly  opened  the  door,  saying  to  Jack,  "  You  must  take  your 
own  carriage  now  and  contrive  some  way  to  mislead  or  deceive 
them,  if  they  undertake  to  pursue ;  and  be  sure  to  dog 
Frink,  if  he  reach  the  city  to-night,  wherever  he  goes,  and 
baffle  him  if  possible." 

Jack  got  out  unobserved  by  the  driver,  and  away  whirled 
the  fugitives  ;  while,  as  he  was  passing  to  his  own  carriage,  he 
heard  the  barouche  rattling  up  the  street. 

When  Bill  and  the  officer  went  on,  they  entered  the  cottage 
yard  and  cautiously  reconnoitred.  But  discovering  no  one 
through  the  lighted  windows,  they  tried  the  front  door ;  when, 
finding  it  unfastened,  (for  Annie  had  intended  to  return,  for  the 
purpose  of  putting  out  the  lights  and  locking  up,)  they  ven- 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  437 

tured  in,  and  closed  it  after  them.  Yet  before  they  had  exam 
ined  far,  a  carriage  drove  by,  when  Bill  said,  "  There  !  some- 
thin's  on  the  move ;  you  watch  here  arid  I'll  see  where  it 
goes  to." 

And  getting  out  as  fast  as  he  was  able  to  do  from  a  dim 
and  strange  place,  he  rushed  up  the  street  after  the  barouche, 
overtaking  just  as  it  reached  Mr.  McRae's  house.  Annie 
saw  him,  as  she  alighted,  and,  entering  within  the  gate, 
said,  "  Do  you  wish  for  any  thing  of  me,  sir ;  or  have  you 
come  to  cut  the  harnesses  of  my  horses,  and  so  fulfil  your 
threat  ?  " 

Frink  saw  at  once  that  he  had  been  overreached,  and  that 
there  was  no  moment  to  lose ;  yet,  wishing  to  turn  away  the 
apparent  suspicion,  he  replied,  "  I  was  lookin'  round  <£r  the 
hotel ;  will  ye  be  good  enough  to  show  me  whereabouts  'tis  ?  " 

But  at  that  moment  Mr.  McRae  (he  having  heard  the 
carriage  and  voices)  came  to  the  door  and  said,  "  Annie,  what 
is  it?" 

"  A  person  inquiring  for  a  public  house,  father." 

"  I  can  show  it  to  him  by  going  a  few  steps.  Be  still,  Teas 
er  ! "  he  added,  addressing  a  small  Scotch  terrier,  that  had 
followed  him  out,  and  was  growling  at  the  stranger  through 
the  fence. 

Bill,  however,  beginning  to  fear  that  he  might  be  entrapped, 
while,  at  best,  it  would  take  him  from  his  purpose  and  his 
course,  was  on,  the  point  of  leaving  as  Mr.  McRae  opened  the 
gate  to  join  him  ;  so  that,  when  Annie  said,  "  Do  not  go, 
father,  for  he  deserves  to  be  in  prison  ;"  he  broke  into  a  run 
down  the  street ;  and  the  dog,  diving  between  his  master's 
legs  through  the  partly  open  gate,  darted  away  barking  at  his 
heels,  and,  as  he  reached  the  cottage,  fastened  to  his  ankle. 
On  this,  drawing  a  revolver,  Bill  dealt  the  dog  a  blow  with  the 
breech  that  sent  him  rolling  into  the  gutter,  and  a  bullet  by  his 
37* 


438  THE    MUSTEE,    OB 

own  ear  through  the  rim  of  his  hat ;  the  report  of  which  shot 
called  a  number  of  white-robed  forms  to  the  adjacent  win 
dows  ;  but  they  saw  nothing,  for  Frink  had  entered  the  house, 
where,  seizing  hold  of  the  officer,  he  'said,  "  They've  cut ;  and 
we  must  run  afore  they  raise  the  town,  for  it'll  be  hotter  nor  a 
hornet's  nest ;  it  will,  by  thunder  !  " 

Thereupon  Bill  opened  the  back  door  very  cautiously, — 
as  the  terrier  had  recovered  his  senses  and  was  barking  furi 
ously  at  the  front,  —  when,  getting  out,  they  retreated  through 
the  garden  and  across  the  field  to  the  main  road. 

As  they  jumped  over  the  fence  into  the  street,  half  breath 
less,  and  looked  up  and  down,  and  down  and  up,  Bill  said, 
huskily,  "  Where  the  devil's  our  carriage  ?  " 

"  I|pnust  be  that  we've  got  on  to  the  wrong  street ! "  replied 
the  officer. 

Then  they  moved  quickly  down  towards  the  corner,  listen 
ing  and  looking  in  every  direction.  Having  reached  it,  Bill 
said,  "  'Tis  the  right  road,  for  here's  the  store  which  we  turned 
round ;  there  tu  's  the  shed  where  we  saw  them  hosses,  and 
there's  the  cottage  up  there  :  don't  ye  hear  that  damned  dog 
at  the  gate  ?  Our  cart  has  left,  ye  may  bet  your  life  on  that ; 
and  it's  more  nor  an  even  thing  that  they're  in  it.  That's  my 
notion  ;  'tis,  by  thunder !  But  you  hold  on  here  and  see  if 
any  thing's  movin',  while  I  go  down  to  that  are  stable  and  git 
somethin'  to  chase  'em  with  —  we'll  give  'em  a  hot  run  yit,  by 
thunder  ! "  and  going  rapidly  down  to  it,  he  knocked  on  the 
window  two  or  three  times,  with  emphasis. 

The  stable  boy,  rousing  up,  inquired,  "  What's  broke  ?  " 

"  My  carriage  and  the  hosses  have  run,  so  I  want  to 
hire." 

"  We  hain't  got  none  in." 

"  But  you've  got  some  saddle  hosses." 

"  I  guess  not ;  'cause  we  hain't  got  on'y  one." 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  439 

"  Wai,  let's  look  at  him  ;  and  here's  a  handful  o'  change  for 
ye."  On  this,  the  door  was  soon  opened ;  when  Bill,  entering, 
gave  him  the  silver,  and  said,  "  I  must  raise  a  hoss  to  go  to 
York,  right  off." 

"  He's  a  tip-top  one,"  replied  the  boy,  pointing  to  a  stall ; 
"  but  ye'll  have  to  ask  Mr.  McKy,  what  owns  him,  'fore  I  can 
let  him  go." 

"  Where'bouts  is  he  ?  " 

"  O,  he  lives  more  nor  a  quarter  of  a  mild  from  this." 

"  Wai,  you  go  and  see  him  'bout  it,  and  here's  a  dollar  for 
ye."  While  holding  the  note  towards  him,  he  inquired,  "  Ye 
don't  know  who  lives  in  the  cottage  next  to  the  store  on  the 
corner  out  here,  du  ye  ?  " 

"  No,  sir-ee !  but  I  guess  Captain  Elery  owns  it,  for  he  goes 
there  several  times  frequently.  I  knows  it,  'cause  he  puts  his 
hoss  up  here,  and  gives  me  a  shillin'." 

He  having  taken  the  proffered  money,  and  started  on  the 
expedition,  Bill  proceeded  to  bridle  and  saddle  the  horse,  for 
he  had  no  time  to  wait ;  and  mounting,  whip  in  hand,  he  rode 
up  to  the  officer,  and  said,  "  Here's  all  I  could  raise,  and  I 
cribbed  this  ;  so  you  must  go  to  the  stable  and  settle  for't,  and 
come  by  the  next  train,  for  I'm  on  their  tracks  ;  they're  takin' 
to  water,  but  I  s'all  fetch  'em." 

Then,  drawing  rein,  he  rode  off  towards  the  city  at  a  kill 
ing  pace,  yet  plying  the  whip  whenever  the  horse  slackened 
speed,  or  he  grew  impatient ;  for  every  thing  had  passed  so 
rapidly  that  he  thought  there  was  still  a  chance  of  overtaking 
the  fugitives.  Thus,  for  an  hour,  he  galloped,  as  the  horse 
had  remarkable  strength  and  power  of  endurance.  Seeing 
how  fleetly  he  was  borne  on,  Bill  began  to  take  more  hope,  so 
that  he  dared  to  look  at  the  facts  ;  and,  at  length,  he  said, 
between  his  teeth,  "  Then  Elery's  the  chap !  and  I,  like  a 
bloody  fool,  let  him  worm  the  whole  on't  out  on  me !  Yes,  I 


440  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

outwitted  him  in  a  dog  trade — p'r'aps  he  'magines  he's  squared 
that  are  'count  now ;  but  Bill  Frink's  arter  him  for  another 
reck'nin',  by  thunder !  If  I  on'y  had  some  o'  the  right  sort  o* 
dogs,  now,  I'd  feel  sure  on  'em  —  and  we'll  have  a  law  to  use 
sich,  yit ;  yes,  right  here  in  York  State,  or  any  wheres  we 
want  to  hunt  'em,  'cause  it's  one  of  our  rights  ;  and  when  we 
southerners  set  out  for't  they'll  allow  it  —  in  course  they  will, 
them  doughfaces  !  But  what's  that  ?  a  coach  ?  " 

True,  it  was  a  carriage ;  and  Bill  curbed  his  horse's  speed 
that  he  might  get  his  wind  before  the  pursuit  was  discovered. 
But,  absorbed  by  his  pleasant  meditations,  he  had  approached 
so  near  that  Jack,  who  was  on  the  watch,  caught  the  tramp  of 
the  advancing  foeman,  and,  observing  his  manoeuvre  from  the 
window,  shouted  to  the  coachman  to  drive  on. 

As  Jack  expected,  the  rider  drew  rein  and  rushed  after ; 
and  when  he  came  near,  so  he  saw  that  it  was  Frink,  the 
sailor  thrust  his  head  out  of  the  window,  and  cried  to  the 
driver,  "  Keep  ahead  of  that  horseman,  any  how  !  Crack  on, 
with  all  your  might  —  I'll  pay  for  spars  and  riggin' !  " 

But  Bill's  horse  surged  on  at  a  tremendous  pace.  So,  as 
he  came  up  nearly  abreast  of  the  carriage,  Jack  drew  his 
head  in,  and,  throwing  off  his  >coat,  sat  down  on  the  back  seat 
in  his  shirt  sleeves.  Thereupon,  tying  a  bright  handkerchief 
around  his  head,  he  doubled  up  one  of  the  cushions  of  the 
coaeh  and  held  it  in  his  arms,  so  that  when  Frink  had  readied 
a  point  where  he  could  look  in,  as  they  dashed  by  one  of  the 
street  lamps,  he  felt  certain  that  he  had  seen  a  woman  and  a 
child ;  and,  being  satisfied  that  it  was  the  party  he  sought,  he 
slackened  speed  and  fell  behind,  feeling  that  he  had  them 
where  they  could  not  escape. 

The  watchful  driver  favored  his  horses  also ;  yet  they  still 
pressed  on  at  a  gallop,  for  nearly  two  miles,  with  exhausting 
force.  But,  as  they  neared  the  corner  of  Canal  Street,  Jack 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  441 

discovered  that  they  were  coming  up  with  the  fugitives  ;  and 
Elery,  hearing  the  rush,  looked  out ;  so  that  for  an  instant  he 
and  Frink  were  face  to  face.  At  the  moment,  Jack,  having 
resumed  his  coat,  thrust  his  body  far  out  of  the  window,  and 
shouted,  "  Down  Canal  to  the  North  River ! "  —  and  round 
whirled  the  carriage,  while  Bill  reined  after  it  hotly,  seeing 
nothing  and  hearing  nothing  besides. 

Down  that  broad  pavement  they  sped,  for  some  minutes,  at 
a  dead  run  ;  but  before  they  reached  the  river  the  horses  were 
completely  blown,  so  that  they  sank  into  a  trot,  and,  at  length, 
to  a  panting,  weary  walk,  as  they  turned,  by  Jack's  orders, 
towards  the  Battery.  Then  Bill,  dismounting,  led  his  horse, 
that  he  might  the  more  quickly  recover  his  wind,  and  be  the 
better  rested  when  the  struggle  should  again  commence.  But 
the  reason  for  flight  pressed  no  further,  as  Jack  felt  satisfied 
that,  ere  this,  the  fugitives  must  have  reached  the  Muse.  Con 
sequently,  as  they  were  passing  St.  John's  Park,  beneath  the 
shadow  of  the  bordering  chestnuts,  Jack  checked  the  coach ; 
when,  with  his  coat  on  his  arm,  he  jumped  out,  and,  keeping 
in  the  shade,  faced  the  horseman,  saying,  "  You've  chased  me 
long  enough,  without  showing  your  colors,  to  be  a  bloody  pi 
rate.  So  now  train  out  your  guns,  or  try  to  board,  if  you  feel 
like  it ! " 

Upon  this,  Bill  looked  at  him,  and  then  into  the  empty  car 
riage,  in  utter  amazement,  but  said  no  word. 

Observing  him,  Jack  declared  further,  "If  it's  the  craft 
you're  after,  you  may  speak  the  man  at  the  wheel,  as  my 
cruise  is  up.  But  if  you  want  any  thing  of  me,  come  and  take 
it,  or  clear  the  coast." 

Yet  Bill  looked  once  more  into  the  carriage,  and,  raising  the 
cushions,  felt  of  the  seats  carefully.  Having  thus  made  sure 
that  it  was  empty,  he  gazed  at  the  driver,  and  then  at  Jack  ; 
upon  which,  putting  his  arm  through  the  bridle  rein,  he  walked 


442  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

up  the  street  without  speaking,  but  with  his  eye  over  his  shoul 
der,  until  he  felt  at  safe  distance ;  when,  mounting  his  horse, 
he  turned  a  corner  and  disappeared. 

Paying  the  coachman,  Jack  moved  quickly  away,  and  gain 
ing  a  post  of  observation  before  Frink  arrived  at  his  hotel,  as 
he  had  to  find  a  stable  for  his  horse,  saw  him  approach  and  go  in. 
A  few  minutes  after  Bill  entered,  Jack  observed  a  man  cau 
tiously  emerge  from  the  same  doorway,  apparently  disguised ; 
for,  although  the  night  was  warm,  he  was  wrapped  in  a  Span 
ish  cloak  so  closely  that  but  little  of  his  face  was  visible; 
noting  which,  the  sailor  was  not  surprised  to  see  him  turn  slyly 
round  the  first  corner  and  peer  frequently  out,  as  though  he 
was  an  impatient  watcher. 

When  Bill  entered  the  house,  he  passed  immediately  to  the 
bar  room,  where,  though  it  Was  after  midnight,  he  found  his 
friends  awaiting  his  return,  and  extremely  glad  to  see  him. 
Calling  them  at  once  to  the  bar,  he  said,  "  I  never  was  so  bone 
dry  in  all  my  born  days.  I'm  parched  clean  through  and 
through ;  my  tongue  feels  as  how.  it  had  been  salted,  and 
hung  up  on  a  nail  a  month,  if  not  more." 

"  I  noticed  that  it  was  getting  corned  pretty  fast  before  you 
left  us,"  said  one  of  his  familiars. 

"Wai,  you  ain't  very  mealy-mouthed  about  it,  any  how. 
But  I'm  ready  for  ye  now ;  so  let's  take  another  horn.  Now, 
one  more.  Now  let's  give  'em  a  bumper."  Upon  this  Frink's 
face  began  to  glow,  while  his  spirits  arose  with  the  other 
spirits,  (for  he  had  been  nearly  in  a  state  of  collapse,  so  that, 
for  some  time,  he  had  had  a  taste  of  his  own  dust  on  his  tongue,) 
when  he  said,  "  I'm  ripe  for  any  thing  now,  boys.  Corne,  let's 
go  out  and  rile  'em."  As  there  was  no  dissent  from  that 
proposition,  but  a  cordial  response,  rather,  they  drank  again, 
and  sallied  forth  in  quest  of  adventures  —  the  true  knights- 
errant  of  their  order. 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  443 

As  they  turned  up  the  street,  Jack  took  their  course,  just 
keeping  them  in  view;  while  he  saw  that  the  man  in  the 
cloak  was  stealthily  pursuing,  also.  This  person  was  Feather- 
stone  ;  but  why  he  had  been  seeking  Frink  for  hours,  and 
painfully  watching  to  dog  him  now,  he  would  have  found  dif 
ficult  of  explanation  —  only  that  he  was  restless  and  appre 
hensive,  with  a  dread  of  to-morrow,  which  sleep  refused  to 
veil.  He  did  not  seek  his  pillow,  for  he  knew  that  it  had  no 
charm  sufficient  for  repose.  Poppy  and  mandragora  had  sud 
denly  ceased  to  lull  his  soul.  Even  Oblivion,  in  whose  dark 
waters  he  had  boastingly  trusted,  was  so  shrunken  as  to  ex 
pose  the  ghastly  shapes  which  lay  in  its  bed ;  and  some  of  the 
portentous  shadows  arose  and  stalked  near  :  these,  perhaps, 
he  hoped  to  lay  by  making  swift  his  judgment  against  the 
fugitives  and  delivering  them  over  to  woe.  But  whatever  his 
thought,  or  hope,  or  purpose  might  be,  we  are  left  to  conjec 
ture  ;  ascertaining  this  alone,  that  he  could  not  resist  the  de 
sire  to  watch  and  follow  Frink.  May  it  not  have  been  an 
inevitable  consequence  —  the  mysterious  and  irresistible  tie  of 
Fate  that  only  the  tears  of  contrition  and  forgiveness  can 
dissolve  ? 

It  was  not  long  before  Bill  and  his  friends  turned  into  a  nar 
row,  cross  street,  when,  moving  down  a  number  of  blocks, 
they  halted  before  a  weather-stained  house,  where,  listening  a 
moment,  one  said,  "  It's  all  right !  "  for  he  heard  a  fiddle  sound 
ing  its  merry  invitation  down  through  the  open  entry,  while 
the  heads  of  the  gay  dancers  could  be  seen  as  they  flitted  past 
the  dingy  windows. 

So  Bill  and  his  retinue,  entering  without  ceremony,  mounted 
up  a  long  and  steep  flight  of  stairs,  and,  opening  the  hall  door, 
strode  through  the  dancers  up  to  the  bar  in  the  further  corner 
of  the  room.  On  reaching  that  barrier  between  flesh  and 
spirit,  Bill  threw  his  hat  to  the  floor  and  stamped  upon  it. 


444 


Then  jerking  the  fiddler  from  the  counter,  on  which  he  was 
perched,  he  tossed  him  in  among  the  company,  and  said,  "I 
want  this  here  crowd  o'  rum-heads  to  stagger  up  and  drink 
with  me."  When,  taking  out  his  pocket  book,  and  slapping  it 
down  on  the  counter,  he  added,  "  And  I  guess  there's  rhino 
enough  in  there  to  buy  ye  all  out ;  I  du,  by  thunder !  " 

With  this  elegant  and  comprehensive  call  the  company 
seemed  to  be  delighted.  So,  breaking  from  the  figures,  they 
flocked  around  the  new  comers ;  and,  while  striving  to  make 
themselves  particularly  agreeable  to  Bill,  they  watched  him 
with  especial  interest  when  he  opened  his  pocket  book,  and 
did  not  fail  to  observe  to  what  place  he  returned  it. 

In  a  few  moments,  after  they  had  imbibed  their  many  named 
and  variously  colored  mixtures,  Bill  tossed  the  musician  up  to 
his  old  perch,  and,  while  taking  a  partner,  said,  "  Come  on, 
boys !  let's  have  an  old-fashin  fore  and  arter  —  a  reg'lar 
break  down !  So,  fiddler,  I  want  ye  to  grease  your  elbow, 
and  put  it  to  us  with  all  your  might,  and  I'll  fork  over  a  dol 
lar,  slap ;  I  will,  by  thunder  ! " 

To  it  they  went  *  and  before  the  dance  was  over  Jack  en 
tered  the  room  and  took  a  seat  unobserved ;  for  those  who 
were  not  on  the  floor  were  watching  the  performers  with  lively 
interest,  and  uttering  words  of  encouragement  or  warning 
whenever  either  of  them  appeared  to  falter  or  flag. 

Theirs  was  no  listless  loitering  to  dreamy  music,  but  a 
wildly  exhausting  dance,  and  long  continued;  for  the  fiddler 
had  a  nervous  arm,  and  worked  it  to  the  utmost.  Swiftly 
they  wove  the  figures,  all  glowing  with  exertion,  and  the  sweat 
flew  in  large,  oily  drops,  as  they  had  no  time  to  mop  it  from 
their  fiery  faces.  Yet  still  came  the  flying  notes  on  ever 
swifter  pinion,  and  on  rushed  the  reel,  until,  at  length,  one 
after  another,  the  Bacchantes  broke  away  from  the  fascina 
tion  of  the  fiddler,  and  sank  into  seats  from  sheer  exhaustion. 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  445 

Giving  only  a  brief  breathing  time,  Bill  called  the  com 
pany  once  more  to  drink  with  him,  and  Jack  came  forward 
among  the  crowd,  and  filled  a  glass.  But  Bill,  happening  to 
observe  him,  —  as  his  eye  was  sharp  for  such  manosuvres,  — 
saw  that  he  slyly  poured  away  what  he  pretended  to  drink. 
So  he  turned  to  the  bar  keeper  and  said,  "  Boss,  you've  got 
one  customer  here  who's  either  a  cold  water  squirt  or  a  spy ; 
and  now  he's  got  to  drink  a  bumper,  or  I'll  put  him  out ;  I 
will,  by  thunder ! " 

"  Go  it,  captain,"  replied .  the  bully  ;  "  I'll  back  ye  ;  and  if 
there's  goin'  to  be  a  fight,  I  want  to  be  counted  in." 

Thereupon  Bill  caught  up  a  decanter,  and,  pouring  out  a 
tumbler  full  of  some  red  liquid,  imported  spirit,  probably, 
like  his  own,  shoved  the  glass  on  the  counter  towards  Jack, 
saying,  "  Now,  give  us  a  toast  that'll  tickle  the  ladies ;  and 
leave  no  heel-tap  arter  it,  or  I'll  spile  your  mug ! " 

But,  seeing  that  Jack  did  not  incline  to  obey,  he  continued, 
"  You'd  better  down  with  it  cussed  quick  ;  "  and,  scrutinizing 
him  a  little  more  closely,  Bill  added,  "  Who  in  hell  be  ye  ? 
doggin'  me  —  ha  ?  " 

On  this  Jack  drew  back  a  step,  while  his  well-knit  form 
dilated,  his  lips  set,  and  his  eyes  flashed. 

Seeing  the  signs  of  determined  resistance,  and  feeling  the 
disdain  of  the  sailor,  Bill  knew  him  for  a  foe,  and  sprang  for 
him.  But,  on  the  instant,  he  received  a  blow  which  staggered 
him,  for  Jack  was  master  of  the  art,  and  lithe  as  a  tiger. 
Yet  while  his  left  hand  was  flying  in  with  a  "  finisher,"  it  was 
caught  by  the  bully,  so  as  to  break  the  blow.  This  gave  Bill 
time  to  recover,  and  to  fling  his  brawny  arms  around  his  an 
tagonist.  Yet,  at  the  moment  of  closing,  Jack  took  him  by 
the  throat,  with  his  right  hand,  so  as  to  make  the  machinery 
whistle  under  the  pressure.  On  that  there  came  a  struggle 
which  made  the  floor  shake,  while  the  women  shrieked  and 
38 


.446  THE    M US TEE,    OK 

sprang  to  keep  clear  of  the  vortex.  But  Frink,  by  his  su 
perior  height  and  giant  weight,  could  lift  Jack  off  his  footing; 
so  that,  through  all  the  whirling,  noise,  and  dust,  he  was  slowly 
bearing  him  towards  the  stairway.  Yet  the  sailor's  strong 
fingers  were  feeling  well  nigh  around  Bill's  windpipe,  where 
the  whistling  had  subsided,  while  his  swollen  face  was  turning 
from  red  to  black.  One  eye,  also,  seemed  about  to  leave  the 
socket,  and  the  scarred  form  of  the  other  looked  like  the  head 
of  a  mud-turtle  half  drawn  under  its  shell.  Bill  felt  it  to  be 
a  desperate  moment.  Still,  although  he  had  gained  nothing 
for  a  few  seconds,  he  was  already  near  the  door ;  which  see 
ing,  he  made  a  heavy  surge  as  a  last  effort,  wherein  he  suc 
ceeded  in  catching  his  shoulder  against  the  edge  of  the  door 
casing,  and  by  it,  as  with  a  lever,  he  was  slowly  but  surely 
twisting  the  sailor  over  the  very  brink  of  the  stairs.  The 
next  instant  they  were  wrapped  in  darkness ;  for  either  the 
great  vibration  or  nefarious  design  had  turned  off  the  gas. 
On  this  Frink  felt  a  hand  in  his  pocket,  and  knew  that  his 
money  and  papers  were  gone,  which  was  his  last  intellection,- 
except  the  oppression  of  mortal  fear ;  for  the  same  murderous 
and  determined  hand  clutched  his  ankle,  (on  the  very  spot 
where  Teaser  had  imprinted  a  warning,)  and  pitched  him  back 
wards  down  the  steep  descent,  whither  he  tumbled  with  a 
hurtle  and  a  crash,  while  Jack  was  still  fastened  to  his  throat, 
and  pressed  to  his  broad  and  shielding  chest. 

As  they  struck  at  the  bottom,  Bill's  arms  burst  apart ; 
when  Jack,  bewildered  and  lost  for  a  moment,  found  himself 
still  clinging  to  the  throat,  which  he  let  go  with  difficulty,  as 
his  fingers  had  stiffened  into  that  form.  Yet,  feeling  satisfied 
that  his  watching  was  at  an  end,  at  least  for  the  remainder  of 
the  night,  he  rose  up,  went  out  and  away,  taking  with  him 
some  severe  bruises  and  a  broken  arm. 

Following  the  party  to  the  house,  Featherstone  had  lingered 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  447 

watching  in  the  neighborhood  until  he  heard  the  noise  of  the 
struggle ;  when,  supposing  that  they  were  arresting  the  fugi 
tives,  (for  it  was  in  such  a  place  that  he  believed  they  would 
be  found,  this  being  his  idea  of  their  life,)  he  rushed  in  and 
half  way  up  the  stairs,  where  he  encountered  the  descending 
combatants  to  be  thrown  stunned  and  bleeding  to  the  floor. 

When  the  watchmen  came  in,  as  they  did  in  a  few  minutes, 
to  examine  the  wreck  and  make  inquiry,  they  were  informed 
by  some  of  the  inmates,  that  the  men  were  fighting,  and  fell 
down  stairs  together. 

So  it  seemed  from  appearances ;  and  those  were  all  they 
had  to  judge  from,  as  Bill's  friends  had  hid,  to  slip  away  slyly 
after  the  officers  had  gone.  Indeed,  they  could  have  no  sus 
picion  of  any  other  hand  in  the  work,  as  the  pair,  where  they 
lay,  were  a  pictorial  illustration  of  the  narrative,  for  they 
were  in  close  proximity,  while  both  were  bleeding  and  insen 
sible.  Thus  Featherstone  and  Frink  had  met,  at  last,  upon 
an  appropriate  and  congenial  field;  from  which  they  were 
borne  off,  in  the  same  cart,  to  that  receptacle  whereto  is 
nightly  gathered  the  scum  which  darknes-s  floats  to  light. 


448  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 


CHAPTER    XLIII. 

Deep,  deep,  are  loving  eyes, 

Flowed  with  naphtha  fiery  sweet; 
And  the  point  is  paradise, 

Where  their  glances  meet. 

R.  W.  EMERSON. 

THE  fugitives  were  agitated,  for  the  moment,  when  they 
heard  the  rush  of  the  carriage  and  saw  the  horseman,  though 
they  soon  perceived  how  Jack  was  misleading  their  pursuer, 
and  opening  them  a  safe  path  to  the  Muse.  So  they  had  no 
further  immediate  apprehension  for  themselves,  but,  on  reach 
ing  the  ship,  they  anxiously  awaited  the  arrival  of  the  sailor. 

At  length  he  came,  with  his  arm  in  a  sling,  as  he  had 
stopped  on  the  way  and  had  the  broken  bone  set.  And, 
while  he  is  telling  them  his  story,  let  us  return  to  those  whom 
we  have  left,  in  more  painful  and  fearful  uncertainty,  at 
Greenville. 

When  Bill  broke  away  so  suddenly  from  Mr.  McRae's  at 
tentions,  and  ran  down  the  street  with  the  dog  in  chase,  Annie 
communicated  to  her  father,  in  few  words,  what  had  happened 
to  her  friends  at  the  cottage. 

"  Why  did  you  not  fly  to  me  at  once  ?/'  he  inquired  with 
unwonted  emphasis.  "  Had  you  done  so,  I  would  have  gone 
with  them  through  danger  to  safety  or  to  death." 

"  I  had  no  time  to  think  of  it.  Mr.  Elery  scarcely  told  us 
what  was  threatening  before  they  were  gone.  And  even  then 
it  was  a  narrow  chance,  as  the  hunters  stood  close  beside  us, 
during  nearly  a  minute,  while  we  were  under  the  store  shed  ; 
where  one  of  them,  seeing  these  horses  and  suspecting  flight, 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  449 

proposed  to  cut  the  harnesses  ;  and,  had  the  other  assented  to 
the  act  we  should  certainly  have  been  discovered ;  on  which 
there  would  have  been  bloody  resistance,  or  Flora  must  have 
been  taken.  It  was  a  thrilling  moment." 

"  How  came  Mr.  Elery  to  seize  their  horses  ?" 

"  For  the  reason  that  these  had  given  out,  and  having 
learned  from  the  sailor  that  they  would  certainly  be  overtaken 
if  his  were  used.  So  there  seemed  to  be  no  way  but  to  de 
ceive  their  driver ;  which  they  did,  apparently  with  ease, 
as  I  heard  the  carriage  turning  in  a  minute  after  they 
left  me." 

"  Then  they  have  escaped  for  the  time,  certainly,  and  per 
haps  entirely  ;  for  the  taking  of  those  horses  was  a  stroke  of 
fortune  which  waits  not  on  the  doomed.  Yet.  these  men  will 
make  a  struggle  to  overtake  them  ;  so  I  shall  do  what  I  can 
to  thwart  their  purpose  ;  and  it  may  be  of  no  small  importance 
to  drive  down  to  the  stable  to  prevent  their  getting  any  thing 
to  follow  with,  there  —  at  least  these  horses  must  go  there  for 
the  night." 

"  I  will  go  with  you,  father ;  and  when  we  return  we  can 
stop  at  the  cottage  to  close  it  up."  But  as  they  were  passing 
out,  Annie,  startled  by  a  suddenly  awakening  echo,  cried, 
"  Hark  ! "  when  listening  an  instant,  she  continued,  "  It  is  the 
tramp  of  a  horse.  He  is  galloping  towards  the  city ;  they  are 
certainly  pursued,  and  we  are  too  late  ! " 

At  that  moment  the  stable  boy  came  running  up,  and  said, 
"  Mr.  McRy,  there's  a  man  down  to  the  stable  says  as  how 
he  wants  your  hoss  to  go  to  York." 

"  Why  do  you  come  to  me  on  that  errand,  when  you  know 
I  don't  lend  him  ?  " 

"  'Cause  the  gen'leman  ask  me  to  ;  but  I'll  go  and  tell  him 
how  he  can't  have  him,  no  how.  He's  a  reg'lar  ole  fire 
works,  he  is  ! " 

38  * 


450  THE    MUSTEE,   OR 

"  I  will  see  the  man  myself.  So  you  may  get  into  the  car 
riage,  Jerry,  and  drive  us  down  to  the  stable." 

As  they  passed  by  the  cottage,  Jerry,  wishing  to  dispel  the 
silence  or  make  himself  agreeable,  said,  "  Ole  Blazes  asked 
me  who  lived  here,  and  I  said  as  how  I  didn't  know  ;  but  I 
told  him  whose  'twas,  'cause  I  guess  he  wants  to  buy  it  —  he's 
got  lots  o'  money  ! " 

"  How  idly,  how  unwittingly  a  great  misfortune  may  be 
brought  to  fall !  This  is  dreadful ;  for  it  is  the  clew !  It 
comes,  too,  from  where  we  least  expected  it  —  so  falls  a  shaft 
of  Fate."  And  turning  to  Jerry,  she  added,  "  You !  how 
came  you  to  know  who  owned  it  ?  " 

"  My  eye  !  Jest  as  if  I  couldn't  smell  out  that  are  !  I  knows 
Captain  Elery  jest  like  a  mice." 

"  Drive  on  ! "  said  Mr.  McEae.  "  Something  may  yet  be 
done." 

In  a  few  moments  they  reached  the  stable ;  when  the  offi 
cer,  who  stood  in  the  doorway,  stepped  to  one  side  for  the 
carriage  to  pass  in.  But  before  Mr.  McRae  alighted,  he 
caught  sight  of  the  vacant  stall,  and  inquired,  hastily,  "  Where 
is  my  horse  ?  " 

"  He  was  right  there  where  he  belongs,  when  I -went  out 
o'  here  to  go  up  to  your  house ;  that's  sartain  true  ! " 

"  Is  this  the  person  who  sent  you  to  me,  Jerry  ?  " 

"  No,  sir,  ee  !  he  was  enough  sight  bigger,  and  one  of  his 
eyes  was  bunged  out,  teau  ! " 

"  Then  my  horse  has  been  stolen,"  said  the  owner,  em 
phatically. 

On  this  the  stranger  came  forward,  and  stated,  "  I  am  au 
thorized  to  pay  for  the  ride  to  the  city,  or  the  horse,  which 
ever  you  choose." 

"  Who  are  you  ? "  inquired  Mr.  McRae,  with  increasing 
excitement. 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  451 

"  I  belong  in  town,  and  am  an  officer  of  the  law." 

"  Then  it  would  have  been  better  for  you  to  have  remained 
there,  than  come  out  here  to  connive  at  a  robbery." 

"  Sir,  I  took  no  part  in  the  transaction." 

"  Then  how  came  you  by  your  instructions  to  settle  with 
me?" 

"  The  person  communicated  to  me  what  he  had  done,  and 
what  he  wished  me  to  do,  as  he  rode  past  me,  on  the  corner 
above." 

"  In  that  case,  it  was  your  duty  to  cry  stop  thief,  imme 
diately,  or  take  the  consequences  of  being  an  aiding  and 
abetting  party.  Yet,  criminal  as  that  is,  it  sinks  into  utter 
insignificance  when  compared  to  the  wickedness  for  which  you 
came  here  —  prowling  in  darkness  to  deprive  a  feeble  mother 
and  her  tender  child  of  their  freedom,  the  most  sacred  right 
under  heaven.  You  cannot  know  what  it  is  to  have  a  wife,  a 
child,  who,  leaning  upon  you  trustfully,  look  up  to  you  for 
support  in  a  way  that  opens  the  heart,  and  keeps  alive  a  sense 
of  God's  infinite  mercy  in  the  soul." 

"  I  looked  upon  it  only  in  the  light  of  business  ;  I  thought 
not  of  the  wrong  until  I  came  near  it,"  replied  the  officer, 
his  eyes  suffusing  and  his  lip  quivering  as  he  continued, 
"  Yes,  I  have  a  daughter  who  is  dying,  it  may  be,  this  very 
hour  —  and  a  wife  watching  over  her  wasted  form.  While  it 
was  my  hope,  out  of  this  night's  transactions,  to  bear  home 
some  things  which  are  needful  —  some  delicacy  that  might  win 
a  kindly  smile  to  their  loving  eyes." 

Before  the  officer  had  ceased  speaking,  Mr.  McRae's  in 
dignation  was  gone  ;  for  his  words,  but  above  all  his  tone  and 
accent,  had  the  life  of  truth.  And  Annie  was  so  roused  by 
the  light  which  not  only  softened  but  transfigured  the  picture, 
that  she  said,  "  What  a  conflict  is  life,  and  how  many  lie 
wounded !  so  that,  rend  the  veil  where  we  may,  we  are  full 


452  THE    MUSTEE,    OB 

likely  to  gaze  on  some  tearful  sorrow,  or  some  aching  heart. 
O,  how  dangerous  it  is  to  judge,  seeing  how  little  we  can 
know  of  the  motive  or  even  the  way  of  another !  Indeed,  most 
of  our  opinions,  touching  such  things,  are  random  arrows  that 
may  hurt  the  innocent." 

"  I  was  hasty,  and  you  will  forgive  me  the  condemnation ; 
for  I  see  that  you  are  a  man,"  apologized  Mr.  McRae.  "  So 
I  wish  you  to  come  home  and  pass  the  night  at  my  house,  and 
try  to  forget  my  words  in  my  deeds." 

"  I  feel  your  kindness,  but  I  must  be  with  them  before 
morning,"  replied  the  officer,  still  more  moved  by  their  gen 
erous  sentiments  ;  "  and  I  believe  there  is  a  '  train'  passes  near 
here  at  twelve  o'clock  which  will  take  me  to  the  city." 

"  There  is  one  due  at  that  hour,"  said  Annie  ;  "  yet  you  will 
have  time  to  go  home  with  us  and  remain  some  minutes.  In 
deed,  I  desire  you  to  do  so  very  much." 

Upon  this,  moving  out  together,  they  walked  up  to  the 
cottage  and  closed  it ;  and,  while  passing  on,  Annie  inquired 
of  the  officer,  "  Do  you  think  they  will  be  overtaken  ?  " 

"  If  they  are  both  travelling  the  same  road  it  may  depend 
on  the  power  of  your  horse.  Yet,  after  all,  what  can  he  do 
alone,  except  to  follow  and  to  watch  ?  and  in  that,  probably, 
he  will  be  out-generalled,  as  he  was  here,  for  he  is  heavy  and 
headstrong  with  liquor." 

They  soon  after  entered  the  house  ;  and  there,  under  the 
opening  influence  of  pitying  kindness,  the  officer  told  of  long 
sickness  and  suffering,  such  as  cry  for  redress  in  many  a  city 
room,  although  the  gay  and  thoughtless  passer  by  hears  never 
the  faintest  whisper  of  woe.  In  consequence  of  this,  Annie 
filled  a  basket  with  fruits  and  delicacies,  and  things  more  sub 
stantial  than  they,  which  she  learned  were  needed ;  and  when 
he  was  about  to  take  leave,  Mr.  McRae  laid  some  money  in 
his  hand. 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  453 

But  the  officer  shrank  from  it,  saying,  "  That  is  something 
which  I  have  never  done,  and  I  feel  that  I  cannot  now ;  yet 
your  kindness  to  me  and  mine  I  shall  never  forget."  And 
the  tears  glistened  in  his  eyes  as  if  to  show  that,  however 
want  might  have  stricken  him,  he  had  kept  the  gems  of  his 
nature. 

"  But,"  interposed  Mr.  McRae,  "  I  wish  to  have  you  search 
for  my  horse,  and  that  will  help  to  repay  you." 

"  I  will  take  it  upon  me  to  find  your  horse,  if  you  want  me 
to  do  so.  and  charge  whatever  the  service  may  be  worth." 

"  Certainly,  I  desire  you  to  attend  to  it  as  much  as  I  respect 
your  feelings,"  said  Mr.  McRae.  And  thus  they  separated  — 
having  become  dear  to  each  other  by  friendly  offices,  notwith 
standing  their  singular  and  sinister  meeting. 

(On  the  next  day  but  one  —  for  he  had  some  difficulty  in 
finding  him  —  the  officer  came  with  the  horse.  At  which  time 
Annie  received  touching  thanks  from  the  dying  girl  and  the 
fond  mother ;  and  learning  their  residence,  she  went  there, 
and  helped  to  smooth  a  sufferer's  pillow,  and  soothe  the  sor 
row  of  the  mourners.)  When  the  officer  had  gone,  Annie 
said,  "  Were  I  not  so  agitated  with  thoughts  of  them,  I  should 
be  very  happy  now  ;  for  the  oil  and  wine  which  we  pour  into 
the  wounds  of  another,  become  light  and  gladness  to  the 
soul." 

"  True,  true  ! "  And  walking  the  room,  he  at  length  added, 
"  I  have  been  thinking,  my  daughter,  how  fluently  and  thought 
lessly  we  denounce ;  for  our  friends  had  taken  that  man's 
horses  in  the  same  way  in  which  he  took  mine,  while  you 
were  equally  aiding  and  abetting,  after  which  I  applauded  the 
deed. 

'  O  wad  some  power  the  giftie  gie  us 
To  see  oursels  as  ithers  see  us  ! ' 

Indeed,  /need  such  a  mirror,  whoever  else  can  do  without  it. 


454  THE    MUSTEE,     OB 

And  as  for  our  friends,  so  many  things  have  fallen  in  their 
favor  that  I  trust  they  will  escape ;  I  think  we  may  hope  for 
the  best." 

Leaving  her  father,  Annie  retired  to  her  chamber,  to  be 
alone  rather  than  with  any  hope  of  sleep ;  for  her  thoughts 
and  her  heart  were  out  on  the  road,  now  leading  her  into  dark 
ambush,  now  on  to  the  very  edge  of  fierce  encounter,  where 
she  saw  the  flying  fugitives  turn  to  bleed  or  fall,  or  be  taken 
captive  ;  and  she  could  not  choose  between  them,  which  to  save. 

But,  at  length,  through  the  tumult  of  her  hopes  and  fears, 
came  love's  morning  star ;  and  she  prayed  for  him  in  whose 
arm,  under  God,  Flora  was  hoping  and  trusting :  so  passing 
into  her  heart,  he  was  shrined  in  holiest  secrecy. 

To  allay  the  sweet  trouble  which  now  possessed  her,  she 
closed  her  eyes,  and  gentle  Slumber  came  and  led  her 
towards  the  realm  of  Sleep;  whither  she  glided,  dreaming 
as  Genius  .dreams,  when  before  his  inspired  vision  there  passes 
some  form,  which,  if  wooed  to  his  canvas  in  all  its  heavenly 
color  and  proportion,  will  range  it  in  that  regal  line  to  whose 
sovereign  sway  we  yield,  joyfully,  forevermore. 

But  not  long  was  she  so  lapped  in  Elysium.  Soon  awaken 
ing,  morning  seemed  to  come  loitering  with  slow  steps  up  the 
steep  east ;  and  the  mail  train  appeared  to  idle  on  its  way. 
Yet,  after  long  watching  and  listening,  there  was  a  whispering, 
a  buzzing,  a  panting  ;  when  straight  out  of  a  gorge  of  the  hills, 
like  the  swoop  of  an  engle,  the  locomotive  came  screaming 
down  the  ringing  rail,  bearing  brief  tidings  of  safety,  over 
which  father  and  daughter  rejoiced  and  were  exceeding  glad. 

Many  times  on  that  day  did  Annie  look  through  the  note 
alone,  although  she  knew  it  by  heart,  and  gaze  upon  it  long ; 
yet  still  returned  it  to  lie  within  her  bosom's  snowy  veil. 

In  the  course  of  the  morning  Annie  walked  down  to  the 
cottage,  and  seeing  no  appearance  of  its  having  been  further 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  455 

invaded,  she  opened  the  door  and  passed  in  —  where  she 
found  all  things  as  they  had  been  left  at  the  moment  of 
flight.  On  this,  she  gradually  moved  out  of  the  fearful  and 
shadowy  apprehensions  which  had  so  suddenly  darkened  the 
present  and  trailed  down  the  future,  so  that  sh'e  received  Elery 
at  the  gate,  in  the  evening,  with  a  smile,  and  something  of  the 
brightness  of  hope  playing  on  the  surface  of  the  flood  of  her 
feelings,  as  she  said,  "  It  is  kind  of  you  to  come." 

"  It  is  what  I  ventured  to  promise,"  replied  he,  taking  her 
hand  ;  "  and  I  hope  that  you  have  not  been  anxious  for  their 
safety  to-day." 

"  Not  since  receiving  your  letter ;  that,  indeed,  was  a  great 
relief  to  us,  although  I  saw  there  was  peril  which  you  did  not 
mean  to  tell  me.  Was  the  danger  so  great  as  we  feared  ?  " 

"  We  did  not  come  to  actual  conflict ;  yet,  at  one  moment, 
only  a  sword's  length  divided  us.  But  your  friend  Jack  thinks, 
though  he  avoids  the  confession,  that  the  bolts  fell  thick  where 
he  gave  battle  ;  for  he  has  a  broken  arm,  and  is  so  bruised  as 
not  to  be  able  to  get  off  ship,  or  even  look  aloft,  to-day." 

So,  entering  the  house  together,  he  told  her  the  story  as  he 
had  gathered  it  from  the  lips  of  the  sailor. 

On  his  finishing  the  relation,  Annie  said,  "  What  a  night  he 
must  have  had !  and  what  service  he  has  rendered  us  !  Truly, 
I  so  honor  courage,  that,  sometimes,  I  can  see  no  virtue  in 
aught  beside  ;  for  it  is  the  spring  of  all  high  achievement,  and 
has  led  the  forlorn  hope  in  all  Freedom's  advances.  What 
power  for  change  lies  in  a  single  resolute  soul !  And  Jack  is 
as  generous  as  he  is  brave !  O,  how  Flora  has  won  you  all 
to  be  her  champions  !  " 

"  Has  she  not  enlisted  you  also?"  he  inquired  with  a  smile. 

"  Yes,  I  cheerfully  confess  it,  for  she  has  singular  power. 
What  self-control  is  hers,  except  when  she  sees  a  generous 
action !  Then,  we  were  friends  by  nature,  and  have  so  en- 


456  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

tirely  confided  in  each  other,  from  the  first,  that  it  will  be 
painful  to  separate.  Are  there  no  means  which  we  can  take 
to  shield  and  keep  her  here  ?  " 

"  Not  here,  I  think.  Yet  we  shall  watch  the  clouds  for  a 
few  days ;  as  they,  in  a  great  measure,  will  determine  what 
course,  and  where." 

"  If  it  be  not  dangerous  to  her,  we  must  meet  before  she 
takes  flight  again." 

"  You  may,  unless  there  should  be  some  sudden  alarm  ;  but 
for  a  few  days  it  would  be  safer  for  me  to  be  your  messenger." 

"  Will  you  come  frequently,  and  let  me  know  all  ?  " 

"  If  you  wish  me  to  do  so,  it  will  be  my  thought  throughout 
the  day,  and  the  charm  of  the  evening,  unless  some  unfriendly 
stroke  should  fall  to  prevent  my  coming.  Yet,  if  I  dared  to 
hope  that  you  would  welcome  me  for  my  own  sake,  I  should 
think  of  it  with  a  freer  spirit.  This  is  no  new  thought ;  but 
one  that  sprang  to  my  lips  almost  at  our  first  meeting ;  yet  it 
has  been  awed  back,  until  this  moment,  through  fear  of  wound 
ing  where  I  adored.  But  now,  seeing  something  before  me 
which  may  divide  us  long,  I  cannot  part  from  jou,  and  take 
aught  of  peace  along  with  me,  without  speaking  of  affection  — 
of  love,  even."  And  pausing,  like  some  high-swept  wave  ere 
it  breaks,  he  tremblingly  added,  "  Tell  me,  dear  Annie,  may  I 
hope?" 

On  this,  Annie's  low-veiled  eyes  were  slowly  raised  to  his, 
as  they  stood  together  in  the  recess  of  the  window,  and,  with 
quick-beating  heart  and  heightened  color,  as  though  his  deep- 
breathed  tones  had  thrilled  congenial  chords,  she  replied,  "  Love 
is  an  infinite  word ;  a  fiower  so  divine  that  it  made  me  trem 
ble  when  I  saw  it  unfolding.  Yet  hope  seeks  no  more  than 
yon " 

At  this  point  the  sentence  was  interrupted  by  a  sob,  and 
finished  with  a  kiss  —  love's  first,  soft,  fearful,  tearful  kiss  ; 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  457 

one  that  leaves  melting  eyes  and  "  music  vows  "  far  behind, 
while  it  fills  the  heart  with  rapture  to  become  a  sainted  emo 
tion  within  the  shrine  and  amid  the  incense  of  Memory. 
Then,  speaking  low,  Elery  said,  "  I  can  never  hope,  dear 
Annie,  to  mate  you  in  amenity  of  manner,  culture,  or  grace  of 
utterance ;  and,  in  all  things,  I  fear  that  I  shall  fall  far  below 
you ;  but  I  am  thine,  and  thou  art  mine  —  a  thought  which 
runs  the  circle  of  the  heavens." 

On  this  he  drew  her  nearer,  that  he  might  hear  her  reply ; 
but  it  melted  on  her  lips,  — 

"The  moth's  kiss  first — the  bee's  kiss  now  !  " 

******* 

After  this,  they  met  nightly,  and  the  dividing  day  seemed 
a  long  separation.  But  their  conversation,  deeply  interesting 
as  they  found  it,  was  too  frequently  broken  to  appear  intelli 
gible  in  conse'cutive  record,  without  the  tones,  glances,  and 
appliances  which  made  it  so  to  them.  Hence,  as  there  are  so 
few  whose  memory  or  imagination  cannot  supply  those,  the 
interviews  are  passed  over  with  the  full  conviction  that  not 
only  the  appropriate  words,  but  all  that  can  give  them  music 
and  emotion,  will  be  profusely  furnished  by  every  appreciating 
reader.  And  yet  they  gave  utterance  to  feelings,  on  one  even 
ing,  which,  as  they  appear  to  have  more  thought  than  usually 
pertains  to  such  scenes,  may  not  be  unworthy  of  note.  On 
the  occasion  referred  to,  Elery  said,  "  Tell  me,  dear  Annie, 
when  you  first  loved  me." 

"  I  do  not  know ;  for  we  love  sooner  and  deeper  than  we 
are  aware.  Yet  as  I  look  back,  by  the  light  of  such  hours  as 
these,  I  learn  how  Flora's  story  filled  me  with  the  hope  of 
meeting  you.  And  then,  having  met  and  parted,  I  had  sad, 
sweet,  half-formed  thoughts  while  musing  alone ;  and  you  were 
39 


458  THE     MUSTEE,     OB 

so  mingled  with  them,  that  soon  I  could  not  help  desiring  to 
see  you  oftener  than  you  came." 

"  Yet  I  feared  that  you  were  treating  me  kindly  on  Flora's  ac 
count  ;  and  even  when  I  began  to  hope  it  were  otherwise,  I  dared 
not  speak ;  for  I  thought  that,  if  there  were  any  suddenness 
in  declaring  my  feelings,  you  would  look  upon  me  as  one  who 
could  have  but  narrow  ideas  of  the  infinite  consequence." 

"  When  we  know  one,  as  striking  events  and  near  observa 
tion  have  revealed  your  heart  to  mine,  if  we  do  not  love  soon, 
it  seems  to  me  that  no  after  time  can  awaken  the  emotion." 

"  True ;  and,  as  I  think  of  the  circumstances  which  opened 
our  acquaintance,  I  believe  that  Heaven,  by  its  manifest  lead 
ing,  designed  that  we  should  meet  to  love,  and  take  the  watch 
of  life  together.  So,  through  shine  and  gloom,  we  will  keep 
the  deck,  for  my  heart  asks  only  that  and  thee." 

"  So  my  heart  replies  ;  and  we  will  shape  our  course  by  the 
stars,  bearing  on  a  flame  as  pure  and  lustrous  as*  theirs." 

"  Yes  ;  and  as  intense,"  Elery  added.  "  I  know  not,  indeed, 
how  love  may  appear  to  others,  but  to  me  it  opens  out  in 
finitely  ;  so  that  I  feel  it  to  be  that  irresistible  attraction  which 
not  only  gave  me  form,  but  determines  my  orbit.  It  is  the 
one  cry  of  iny  nature,  the  one  longing  of  my  soul.  Without 
it  fame  wears  no  attractive  wreath,  the  saint  no  glory.  Such 
was  love's  dream,  traced  with  all  gorgeous  and  tender  colors, 
by  fairy  pencils,  on  the  dissolving  curtains  of  sleep.  And  now 
it  is  a  dream  no  more,  but  real  as  lip  to  lip  can  impress  it." 

"  The  world  floats  by  me  as  a  little  thing,  and  the  heavens 
are  near.  Look  there  ! "  said  she,  pointing  up ;  "  see  how  the 
stars  smile  on  us  !  arid  the  music  of  their  first  song  is  audible 
through  all  the  passages  of  my  heart.  Do  you  hear  it  ?  " 

"  I  cannot  quite,"  replied  he,  kissing  her ;  "  and  I  shall 
not  let  you  so  turn  away  from  me,  even  to  gaze  after  the 
infinite." 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  4»59 

"  Do  you  think  I  can  have  such  a  wish  ?  when  to  love  and  to 
be  loved  appear  to  me  to  be  the  hope  and  the  crown  of  life  ? 
when  it  is  my  undying  faith  that  two  full  according  hearts 
make  the  charm  and  the  music  of  existence,  while  memory 
lives,  or  aspiration  continues  ?  " 

I  may  no  more  of  bliss  disclose, 
Or  paint  the  peace  of  their  repose ; 
And  o'er  the  deeper  mystery 
E'en  Song  itself  must  silent  be. 


460  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 


CHAPTER    XLIV. 

I  was  the  victim  of  circumstances.       NAPOLEON. 

FRINK  and  Featherstone  being  still  unconscious,  when,  un 
loaded  at  the  watch  house,  a  member  of  the  healing  profession 
was  called  in.  On  examination,  Featherstone  was  found  to 
have  a  broken  nose,  with  some  severe  contusions ;  while  his 
front  teeth  were  generally  among  the  missing.  Yet,  on  the 
whole,  he  was  not  so  dangerously  wounded  but  that,  by  ad 
ministering  the  proper  restoratives,  he,  in  the  course  of  an 
hour,  so  far  recovered  his  senses  as  to  be  able  to  make  out 
where  he  was,  and,  consequently,  ask  to  be  taken  home. 

On  this,  the  one  who  had  him  in  charge  curtly  replied, 
"  The  doctor  advises  that  you  hold  on  here." 

"  But  I  do  not  choose  to  remain,"  interposed  Featherstone. 

"  Wai,  ole  Pill  said  you  might  wander  a  leetle ;  but  you 
can't  go  out  o'  here  ;  so  your  best  way  is  not  to  git  fractious 
about  it,  or  I  shall  be  under  the  painful  necessity  of  ironin' 

you." 

"  I  say,  Smasheyes,"  hailed  a  rosy-looking  covey,  who  had 
been  picked  up  in  the  early  part  of  the  night  for  trying  to 
quench  his  thirst  in  the  gutter,  or  mop  it  dry  with  his  clothes, 
"  if  ye  let  him  do  it,  you'll  be  ironed  by  a  flat." 

"  I  should  like  to  know  for  what  I  am  detained  ?  "  inquired 
Featherstone. 

"  On'y  to  settle  for  the  leetle  amusement  you  had  with  the 
fancy  last  night.  The  fiddler  says  how  you  owe  him  a  dollar, 
though  he  allows  that  it  was  ole  One-eye  who  promised  it ; 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  461 

yet  he  reckons  as  how  it  makes  no  difference  which  on  ye 
called  for  the  music,  as  you  and  he  were  tight  friends  ;  for  the 
last  he  saw  on  ye  you  was  a  huggin'  of  each  other." 

At  this  point  Featherstone  had  so  far  recovered  that  his 
wounds  began  to  become  painful.  So  he  felt  of  his  mouth  and 
for  his  teeth,  and  then  he  touched  his  nose  carefully,  as  well 
as  many  other  protuberances  of  his  face  and  head,  when  his 
hand  visited  the  more  remote  parts  of  his  frame  that  were 
complaining.  After  which  he  inquired,  rather  dismally,  "  How 
was  all  this  done  ?  " 

"  They  du  say  you  stared  a  leetle  tu  much  for  safety." 

From  this  Featherstone  thought  it  possible  that  he  might 
have  been  observed,  while  watching  the  house,  by  some  of  the 
inmates,  and  was  knocked  down  stairs  for  attempting  to  enter. 
So  he  inquired,  "  Have  you  the  person  who  committed  the 
assault  in  custody  ?  " 

"  0,  yes ;  he's  hard  and  fast ;  and  you  shall  have  an  early 
ticket  to  appear  ag'in  him ;  and  I  guess  you'll  win,  for  you 
look  as  how  you'd  had  a  prize  fight,  and  they  du  say  you  got 
the  best  on't." 

"  But  I  do  not  wish  to  make  complaint,  or  prosecute  the 
matter  in  any  form." 

"  O,  now  you're  tu  forgivin' ;  you  must  prosecute  ;  the  scales 
of  justice '11  grow  rusty  if  ye  don't.  Your  proposition  is  lib 
eral,  I  know,  but  you  oughter  be  a  leetle  hard  once  in  a  while 
for  the  sake  of  keepin'  our  free  institutions  a  workin',  and  to 
help  grease  the  law  machinery." 

Perceiving  that  he  must  wait  until  he  could  speak  with  some 
higher  official,  Featherstone  straightened  partly  up,  and  limped 
along  to  a  small  looking-glass  which  hung  in  the  room,  to  see 
how  he  appeared,  as  he  was  not  quite  able  to  make  out  the 
new  geography  of  his  face  by  feeling.  For  both  eyes  had 
gone  into  full  mourning,  while  his  nose  looked  like  a  "  long 
39* 


462  THE    M US  TEE,     OR 

red,"  only  more  crooked,  as  the  end  of  it  was  pointed  round 
toward  his  left  ear.  And  imparting  additional  novelty,  and  so 
heightening  the  effect  of  the  whole  phiz,  his  gashed  upper  lip 
had  swelled  out  and  turned  up,  as  if  surveying  the  recent  al 
terations,  or  else  fearing  to  fall  into  the  cavity  which  was  oc 
casioned  by  the  sudden  departure  of  the  teeth. 

Having  satisfied  himself  with  looking,  though  it  took  him 
some  time,  Featherstone  tied  his  handkerchief  over  the  new 
and  tender  developments  as  well  as  he  could,  and,  pulling  his 
cloak  around  him,  hobbled  to  a  bench  in  the  dimmest  corner, 
where  he  waited  in  silence  for  the  morning. 

The  examination  of  Frink  disclosed  such  a  condition  that 
the  surgeon  ordered  him  to  be  immediately  removed  to  the 
hospital.  When  there,  he  was  found  to  have  one  shoulder 
badly  broken,  the  scalp  laid  open  across  the  back  of  the  head, 
directly  under  which  there  was  an  indentation  of  the  skull, 
although  exhibiting  no  actual  fracture.  Yet  he  did  not  appear 
to  be  in  immediate  danger  of  dying,  as  he  breathed  with  but 
little  difficulty,  notwithstanding  his  big  throat  was  marked  with 
a  hand  which  might  have  been  gauntleted  with  steel,  for  it 
left  the  blue  wherever  it  had  touched. 

The  surgeons  proceeded  to  set  the  shoulder  as  well  as  they 
were  able  to  do  under  the  circumstances,  and  dressed  the 
wound  on  the  occiput.  Yet  they  could  say  nothing  definite  as 
to  the  result,  for  they  had  no  means  of  knowing  the  injury 
which  the  brain  might  have  received,  and  time  alone  could 
determine  it.  Such,  at  least,  was  the  information  that  James 
obtained,  he  having  gone  forth  immediately  on  Jack's  return 
and  communicated  to  the  fugitives. 

When  morning  came,  one  of  the  officers,  with  whom  Feath 
erstone  had  some  acquaintance,  looked  in.  But  seeing  that 
he  did  not  recognize  him,  the  prisoner  called  him  near,  and 
made  known  his  name,  with  his  desire  to  leave  immediately. 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  463 

He  also  entered  some  complaint  touching  his  unwarrantable 
detention,  and  finished  with  allusions  to  the  "great  anxiety 
which  it  would  cause  his  family.  To  which  the  officer  po 
litely  replied,  "  I  hold  no  authority  to  permit  you  to  leave,  yet 
I  have  no  doubt  but  that  you  can  easily  establish  your  inno 
cence.  And  as  to  the  witnesses,  of  course  the  government 
will  call  the  inmates  of  the  house,  as  well  as  the  watchmen 
who  found  you  ;  and  if  you  wish  to  have  any  others  in  court 
you  may  give  me  their  names,  and  they  shall  be  subpoenaed, 
if  they  can  be  found." 

"  But  what  am  I  charged  with?"  he  inquired  impatiently. 

"  I  understand  the  allegation  to  be,  that  you  quarrelled  with 
a  gentleman  from  the  south,  whom  you  seriously  injured  by 
throwing  him  down  stairs." 

"  Did  you  learn  the  name  of  the  person  ?  " 

"  I  heard  it,  but  it  has  escaped  me."  And  turning  to  the 
man  who  had  Featherstone  in  charge,  he  said,  "  Do  you  re 
member  the  name  of  the  southerner?" 

"  I  don't  think  I  eclzactly  got  it;  but  it  sounded  sunthin'  like 
Chink,  or  Shrink  ;  at  any  rate  it  began  with  the  same  letter. 
But  any  how,  they  allowed  he  was  a  large  man  with  on'y  one 
eye,  and  looked  as  how  he'd  lit  a  number  o'  duels  with  broad 
swords,  as  one  side  of  his  face  was  all  hacked  up,  and  most  of 
his  fingers  was  chopped  off." 

The  rumor  of  so  bloody  a  battle  soon  passed  from  the  pur 
lieus  to  the  Park,  with  the  usual  exaggerations  ;  yet  with 
quite  as  much  truth,  perhaps,  as  the  facts  came  from  the  wit 
nesses  in  the  court  of  inquiry. 

Before  the  examination  took  place,  it  was  known  to  the 
southern  men,  who  were  tarrying  at  the  hotel  from  which  Bill 
sallied,  that  one  of  their  influential  fellow-citizens  had  been 
seriously  if  not  fatally  injured.  The  circumstance  naturally 
drew  them  together ;  and,  while  thus  standing,  an  officer 


464  THE    MUSTEE,    OB 

came  in,  who,  knowing  at  a  glance  from  what  quarter  of  the 
country  they  were,  approached,  and  hearing  some  of  their 
words,  said,  "  As  the  gentleman  of  whom  you  are  speaking  is 
unable  to  appear  in  court,  or  give  any  account  of  himself,  I 
wish  to  find  some  person  who  will  go  and  identify  him." 

Thereupon  one  of  the  group  inquired,  "  Whom  have  they 
rested  for  the  act  ?  " 

"  The  man  what  did  it  was  found  in  the  same  house,  and 
made  part  of  the  same  heap  ;  he's  a  lawyer  here  by  the  name 
of  Featherstone." 

Rutledge,  who  was  one  of  the  number,  hearing  this,  said, 
"  I  will  go,  if  I  can  be  of  any  service ;  and  I  may  be,  as  I  knew 
Frink." 

Upon  this,  Carlo  remarked,  (for  he  has  been  to  Paris  since 
we  last  saw  him,)  "  I  might  go  if  you  could  promise  me  any 
amusement ;  although  Monsieur  Frink  was  not  one  of  our  set." 

The  officer,  however,  replied,  "  I  believe  one  will  be  suffi 
cient." 

Soon  after,  he  and  Rutledge  went  out  together  ;  and  making 
the  visit  and  returning  to  court,  they  took  a  seat  beside  the 
attorney  to  communicate  the  name  and  residence  of  the  in 
jured  man,  so  that  he  might  complete  his  papers. 

On  the  case  being  called,  Featherstone  was  conducted  into 
court ;  and,  when  the  complaint  had  been  read  and  the  plea 
entered,  the  attorney  for  the  government  put  the  woman  on 
the  stand  who  had  officiated  as  Bill's  partner  in  the  fore  and 
after. 

That  lady  being  sworn,  and  having  stated  her  name,  the  at 
torney  said  to  her,  "  Now,  my  good  woman,  I  want  you  to  go 
on  and  communicate  to  the  honorable  court  what  you  know 
about  the  sad  transaction  at  your  house  on  last  night." 

"  At  the  ball,  do  you  mean  ?  "  inquired  she. 

"  I  wish,  Fidelia,  to  have  you  begin  at  the  beginning  of  the 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  465 

« 

quarrel  between  the  prisoner  now  at  the  bar  and  Mr.  Frink  — 
giving  all  the  melancholy  circumstances  up  to  the  murderous 
end." 

On  this  the  counsel  for  the  accused  interposed,  and,  address 
ing  the  court,  said,  "I  think  my  learned  brother  goes  far, 
much  farther,  he  himself  must  be  aware,  than  the  facts  in  the 
case  will  warrant,  when  he  calls  this  misfortune  a  murder."/ 

"  I  believe,  may  it  please  your  honor,  that  the  learned  coun 
sel  is  right ;  and,  when  he  is,  I  can  think  of  no  rarer  pleasure 
than  to  acknowledge  it.  Yet  he  will  readily  perceive  that  the 
exciting  nature  of  the  transaction  is  calculated  to  work  upon 
the  feelings ;  and  that  on  such  occasions  we  use  words  without 
being  conscious  of  their  full  legal  import ;  therefore,  if  the 
court  please,  I  will  restate  my  question  in  a  form  which  I  hope 
will  be  free  of  all  objection.  Now,  Miss  Fidelia  —  I  believe 
that  is  your  name." 

"  My  name  is  Fidelia  Constant." 

"Well  now,  Miss  Fidelia  Constant,  we  wish  you  to  make 
known  to  the  honorable  court  what  was  done  in  your  house  by 
the  prisoner  at  the  bar,  relative  to  the  assault  upon  Mr.  Frink." 
And  turning  to  the  counsel,  that  gentleman  bowed  graciously, 
seeming  to  say,  "  Your  language,  now,  my  learned  brother,  is 
within  the  rule ; "  while  the  highly  intelligent  and  carefully 
cultivated  spectators  appeared  to  be  astonished  and  delighted 
at  such  a  display  of  legal  acumen. 

"  Go  on  now,  Fidelia,"  said  the  attorney. 

"  I  can't,  for  I  didn't  understand  what  you  asked  me." 

Here  the  court  interposed,  saying,  "  I  will  put  the  question. 
Witness,  did  you  see  the  fight  in  your  house  last  night  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  did  ;  for  it  was  so  near  I  couldn't  help  it." 

"  Go  on  then  and  tell  how  it  happened,"  said  the  judge ; 
and  thereupon  he  looked  down  on  the  voters,  and  they  looked 
up  to  him,  as  though  he  had  untied  the  gordian  knot, 


466  THE    MUSTEE,   OB 

* 

"  I  had  been  dancing  with  the  big  man  from  the  south " 

commenced  Fidelia. 

"  Does  the  witness,  Mr.  Attorney,"  inquired  the  court,  in 
terrupting,  "  refer  to  the  party  who  is  alleged  to  have  been 
injured  ?  " 

"  Yes,  your  honor." 

"  You  may  go  on,  now,  witness,"  said  the  court. 

"We  had  been  dancin',"  again  commenced  Fidelia,  "and 
were  restin',  for  it  was  so  very  warm,  or  hot,  as  you  may 
say " 

"I  submit,"  said  the  counsel,  interrupting,  "that  the  ther 
mometer  would  be  the  best  evidence  of  the  warmth  of  the 
weather." 

"  Miss  Fidelia,"  said  the  attorney,  "  you  need  not  state  any 
thing  concerning  the  temperature  of  the  atmosphere." 

"  I  should  like  to  know  how  I  can  say  any  thing  about  re 
freshment  if  you  won't  let  me  tell  why  I  took  it." 

"  We  do  not  wish  to  hear  any  thing  concerning  the  refresh 
ment,"  said  the  attorney,  gently  ;  "  for  that  may  be  objection 
able  matter." 

"  You  needn't  be  afeard  of  my  tellin'  any  thing  o'  that 
kind." 

"  I  mean  that  the  inquiry  is  not  material,"  explained  the 
attorney,  "  and  that  it  might  lead  to  something  irrelevant  or 
impertinent." 

"  I  should  like  to  know  what  you  say  that  for,"  sharpened 
up  .the  witness.  "  I  say  I  haven't  said  a  word  which  looks 
like  bein'  irreverent  or  impertinent ;  so  there  ! " 

"  O,  no,  Fidelia,  certainly  you  have  not,"  replied  the  at 
torney,  soothingly.  "  You  misapprehend  me  ;  I  only  mean  to 
say  that  any  thing  relative  to  the  refreshment  could  have  no 
bearing  on  the  case." 

"  Wai,  then,  I  can't  tell  any  thing  about  it ;  for  it  broke  out 
at  the  refreshment," 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  467 

"  What  broke  out  ?  "  inquired  the  court,  impatiently. 

"  Why,  the  rumpus,"  replied  Fidelia. 

"  How  did  it  break  out  ?  "  the  court  followed  up  with. 

"  Wai,  you  see,  it  was  very  warm,  and  the  southern  planter 
and  I,  with  a  number  of  others,  had  been  dancin' ;  so  we 
was  quite  fatigued,  as  you  may  say,  —  and  we  was  very  much 
fatigued, —  when  he,  very  perlitely,  as  you  may  say,  gin  us  an 
invite  to  take  some  refreshment." 

At  this  point,  the  counsel  interrupted  with  the  inquiry, 
"  Was  the  prisoner  present  while  you  were  dancing  ?  " 

"  To  tell  you  the  plain  truth,  I  don't  think  he  was  ;  for  I 
didn't  see  him  —  and  I've  got  nothin'  agin  him  but  the  rumpus 
he  kicked  up." 

"  Then,  may  it  please  your  honor,"  delivered  the  counsel, 
with  appropriate  emphasis  and  gesticulation,  "  I  submit  that 
this  testimony,  so  far  as  it  has  gone,  is  wholly  and  totally 
inadmissible." 

"  Certainly ;  no  principle  of  evidence  is  more  clear  than 
that,"  decreed  the  judge.  And  turning,  he  said,  "  Witness, 
when  did  you  first  see  the  prisoner  at  the  bar  ?  or  rather,  at 
what  stage  of  last  night's  performance  did  he  come  in  ?  " 

"  I  believe  he  slipped  in  while  we  was  pertakin'  of  the  re 
freshment,  as  you  may  say." 

"  What  did  he  do  then  ?  "  inquired  the  court. 

"  He  wouldn't  do  nothin' ;  he  wouldn't  even  taste  no  refresh 
ment  ;  and  the  southern  gentleman  urged  him  to  give  a  senti 
ment  for  us,  but  he  wouldn't  do  nothin'  on'y  fight,  as  you 
may  say." 

"  Now,  Miss  Fidelia,"  said  the  attorney,  wooingly,  "  tell  us 
how  it  was." 

"  Wai,  I  will,  if  they'll  let  me.  My  partner  in  the  dance, 
the  gentleman  planter  from  the  south,  that  I  spoke  about  afore, 
the  one  who  asked  us  all  to  take  refreshment,  on  account  of 


468  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

the  extreme  heat,  as  you  may  say,  —  and  I  shouldn't  have 
taken  it  if  it  hadn't  been  so  warm  and  muggy,  for  I  never 
does ;  so,  as  we  were  goin'  up,  or  while  we  stood  round  the 
refreshment,  I  will  not  swear  sartainly  which,  the  man  came 
up  and " 

"  What  man  ?  "  inquired  the  counsel,  interrupting. 

"  Why,  the  man  that  rowed  so,  and  scared  us  e'en  a'most 
to  pieces,  as  you  may  say." 

"  Well,  go  on,"  said  the  attorney,  smiling  at  the  counsel. 

"  I  don't  know  whereabouts  I  was." 

"  You,  testifying,  with  the  oath  of  God  upon  you,  against 
the  life  of  a  fellow-creature,"  exclaimed  the  counsel,  with  be 
coming  vehemence,  "  say  now  that  you  do  not  know  where 
you  were ! " 

"  I  disremembered  whereabouts  I  was  in  the  story,  as  you 
may  say  ;  for  you  keep  a  tryin'  to  put  me  aout  all  the  time." 

"  You  had  got  where  i  the  man  came  up ; '  those  are  the 
words,  as  I  have  them  among  my  minutes,"  suggested  the 
court ;  "  do  they  agree  with  yours,  gentlemen  ?  " 

"  Yes,  your  honor,  they  do  with  mine,"  replied  the  attorney. 

"  I  have  them,"  said  the  counsel,  reading,  " i  the  man  came 
in '  —  a  very  material  difference,  I  submit." 

"  Well,  witness,  how  was  it  ?  "  inquired  the  judge. 

"  I  said  up ;  for  I  didn't  see  him  come  in,"  replied  she  ; 
"  and  you  told  rne  to  tell  on'y  what  I  saw  with  my  own  eyes." 

"What  did  he  do  when  he  came  'up'?"  the  attorney  in 
quired. 

"  Is  not  that  leading  ?  "  queried  the  counsel. 

But  Fidelia  had  got  out  of  patience ;  so,  reddening,  she 
raised  her  voice,  saying,  "  He  wouldn't  do  nothin'  till  he  drew 
back  and  struck  my  partner,  the  planter.  Then  he  clinched 
him;  and,  my  stars,  how  they  twisted,  and  squirmed,  and 
wriggled  !  and  all  the  whole  time  the  southerner  was  workin' 


LOVE     AND    LIBERTY.  469 

towards  the  door,  a  tryin'  to  git  away  ;  and  I  pitied  him  so  I 
didn't  know  what  to  do  ;  and  while  I  was  a  tryin'  to  think 
how  to  stop  the  squabble,  the  lights  was  dowst  out  by  the  jig- 
glin',  as  you  may  say  ;  and  the  next  thing  I  heard " 

"  Witness,"  said  the  counsel,  sharply,  "  you  are  not  to  relate 
what  you  heard." 

"  I  will  not  press  the  inquiry  further  with  Miss  Fidelia," 
said  the  attorney,  "  as  I  have  ample  testimony  with  regard 
to  the  conclusion  of  the  —  affray."  And  turning  to  the  coun 
sel,  he  added,  curtly,  as  beseems  such  irreconcilable  foes,  "  She 
is  your  witness." 

"  You  say,"  said  the  counsel,  taking  up  the  cross-examina 
tion,  "that  your  name  is  Fidelia  Constant  —  where  were  you 
lorn?" 

"  I  can't  remember ;  and  you  say  you  don't  want  hearsay 
evidence." 

"Miss  or  Mrs.  Fidelia  Constant,  are  you  a  married 
woman  ?  " 

"  It's  none  o'  your  business,  you  good-for-nothin' ! " 

"  Witness !  you  must  answer  the  questions  of  counsel," 
ruled  the  court,  "  unless,  by  so  doing,  you  will  criminate 
yourself." 

"  But  you  said,  on'y  a  minute  ago,  how  I  mustn't  tell  a  single 
word  on'y  about  the  fight ;  and  I  ain't  agoin'  to." 

"  If  you  address  the  court  in  that  manner,"  threatened  the 
judge,  "  I  shall  be  under  the  necessity  of  punishing  you  for 
contempt." 

"  I  haven't  said  how  I  felt  any  contempt  for  ye ;  and  I 
guess  I've  got  a  right  to  think  jest  what  I  please,  as  much  as 
other  folks." 

Seeing  that  the  judge  did  not  know,  between  his  dignity 
and  his  popularity,  what  course  to  pursue,  the  adroit  counsel 
said,  "  I  pray  the  court  to  forbear ;  as  I  prefer  to  waive  any 
40 


470  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

further  inquiry  in  that  direction,  rather  than  see  this  creature 
suffer  for  her  ignorance  of  the  reverence  due  to  the  bench." 

"  It  is  a  matter  of  great  doubt,  with  the  court,  whether  it 
has  a  right  to  withhold  its  hand,"  the  "  bench  "  delivered,  after 
due  deliberation.  "  Yet  it  will  so  far  yield  to  the  prayer  of 
counsel,  as  to  stay  proceedings  pending  the  examination." 

"  Miss  or  Mrs.  Fidelia,"  resumed  the  counsel,  "  what  kind 
of  refreshment  were  you  taking  when  this  fight,  as  you  say, 
commenced  ?  " 

"  Don't  you  believe  the  fight  begun  when  I  swore  it  did  ?  " 

"  Woman,"  replied  the  counsel,  "  you  are  here  to  answer 
questions,  not  to  ask  them.  What  kind  of  refreshment  was 
that  ?  I  repeat." 

"  What  kind  of  refreshment  ?  "  she  echoed. 

"  Yes,  that  was  my  question,  precisely  !  "  replied  the  coun 
sel,  standing  sidewise  to  her,  with  his  ear  leaned  towards  her, 
while  looking  round  very  wisely  on  the  spectators ;  "  and  I 
think  it  is  pretty  evident  to  all  of  us  that  you  understood  it 
at  first." 

On  this  she  said,  meekly,  "  There  was  a  number  o'  kinds  of 
refreshment." 

"  I've  no  doubt  of  that ;  but  what  kind  did  you  take  ?  " 

"  Me  ?  " 

"  Yes,  you" 

"  I  took  most  a  tumbler  full  o'  water,  with  a  leetle  mite  o' 
gin  —  not  enough  to  hurt  a  muskeeter,  as  you  may  say." 

"  Was  it  what  they  call  a  gin  sling,  or  a  gin  toddy,  or  a  gin 
cocktail  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  nothin'  about  it ;  and  nobody  but  you  would 
be  mean  enough  to  ask  me  ;  so  there  ! " 

"  What  did  your  partner  in  the  fore  and  after  take  ?  " 

"  He  took  the  same  kind  I  did." 

"  How  do  you  know  that  fact  ?  "  questioned  the  counsel. 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  471 

"  'Cause  he  said  he  would,  out  o'  compliment  to  me ;  and  I 
turned  it  out  myself  from  the  same  decanter ;  that's  how." 

"  You  took  quite  a  fancy  to  your  accomplished  partner  — 
didn't  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  did  ;  for  he  was  a  perlite  man  —  a  great  sight  more 
so  than  you  be." 

"  You  disliked  the  man  that  he  pitched  into  ?  "  queried  the 
counsel. 

"  She  has  not  said  that  he  pitched  into  him,"  interposed 
the  attorney.  "  She  testified  that  the  injured  man  was  trying 
to  get  away." 

"  Miss  or  Mrs.  Fidelia,  do  you  know  what  Mr.  Frink  came 
to  your  house  for,  on  last  evening  ?  " 

"  Come  to  our  house  for  ?  "  echoed  Fidelia,  while  the  spec 
tators,  and  most  of  the  attendant  lawyers,  leaned  forward  as  if 
fearing  to  lose  a  single  word. 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  counsel,  while  surveying  the  crowd,  "  that 
is  what  I  asked,  precisely  !  " 

Thereupon,  the  attorney  arose,  and,  addressing  the  court, 
said,  "  I  feel  it  to  be  my  duty,  as  an  officer  of  the  government, 
to  interpose  here  ;  for  I  belive  that  there  are  some  limits,  even 
to  a  cross  examination.  And  if  law  be  instituted  for  the  pro 
tection  of  society,  as  I  hold  it  to  be,  then  those  who  are  called 
to  the  high  places  of  its  administration  should  see  that  its 
sanctuary  is  kept  pure  ;  in  this  view,  if  in  no  other,  I  appre 
hend  that  this  honorable  court  will  assert  its  power,  and  check 
the  inquiry." 

"  I  do  not  see  the  relevancy  of  the  question,"  declared  the 
court. 

"  May  it  please  your  honor,"  responded  the  counsel,  rising, 
"  suppose  Frink  told  this  woman  that  his  bones  were  aching 
for  a  fight,  and  that  he  should  hurt  somebody  if  he  wasn't 
held.  Moreover,  I  propose  to  show  your  honor,  by  compe- 


472  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

tent  and  unimpeachable  testimony,  that  this  same  southern 
planter  and  gentleman  went  to  her  house  ripe  for  a  row  with 
any  body ;  and  that  he  had  one,  too,  of  his  own  raising." 

"  Then  you  are  not  under  the  necessity  of  making  the  in 
quiry  of  this  witness,"  the  court  remarked. 

"  I  did  it,  your  honor,  because  I  thought  that  it  would  save 
time.  But  under  the  direction  of  the  court  I  will  not  press  it 
further.  The  witness  may  step  down." 

On  this  Fidelia  smiled  around  as  she  moved  towards  her 
seat,  when  the  counsel,  looking  up  suddenly,  said,  "  There  is 
one  question  which  I  omitted  —  if  the  court  will  allow  me." 
Receiving  a  nod  from  the  quarter  addressed,  he  turned  to  the 
witness,  and  added,  "  Miss  Constant,  will  you  step  back  once 
more  ?  only  for  a  moment." 

She  having  taken  the  stand  again,  he  inquired,  "  Do  you 
see  the  man  here  with  whom  Mr.  Frink  had  the  quarrel  ?  " 

"  No !  I've  been  a  lookin',  every  minute  a'most,  to  see  him 
come  in." 

"  What  made  you  expect  that  ?  " 

"  'Cause  you  said  the  prisoner  was  at  the  bar.  So  I  looked 
round  for  it,  and  though  I  didn't  see  none,  I  knew  by  your 
appearance  there  must  be  one  somewheres  about ;  and  I  nat- 
erally  s'posed  he  was  in  it." 

"  Then  you  say,  on  your  oath,"  emphasized  the  counsel, 
"  that  the  man  there,  with  the  cloak  and  bandage  on,  is  not 
the  one  who  '  rowed '  ?  " 

"  I  guess  not ;  though  he's  so  bundled  up  I  won't  say  sar- 
tain  ;  but  if  he'll  take  off  his  winter  harness,  and  that  are 
bloody  dud,  I  can  tell  better." 

"  Mr.  Featherstone,"  said  his  counsel,  "  will  you  have  the 
goodness  to  lay  aside  your  outer  garment,  and  remove  your 
handkerchief  from  your  face  a  moment,  only  a  moment  ?  " 

When  the  prisoner  had  slowly  —  from  reluctance  or  pain  — 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY  473 

done  as  was  requested,  Fidelia,  looking  at  him  closely,  said, 
"  It  ain't  him  no  more'n  nothin'  at  all,  for  that  man  had  brown 
hair  and  no  whiskers,  as  you  may  say.  But  my  sakes  !  he 
looks  like  a  blue  Monday ! " 

"  We  do  not  wish  for  any  of  your  comparisons,  witness," 
cried  the  counsel. 

"  Wai,  I  say  he  does ;  he  looks  as  though  he  was  an  egg 
plant,  and  had  been  trod  on  by  an  elephant.  O  my !  how  he 
squelched  him  !  He  saw  the  elephant  some  where  last  night, 
I  know  he  did.  My  sakes  ! " 

As  this  testimony  put  a  new  face  on  the  matter,  Feather- 
stone  tied  up  his  again.  Thereupon  the  government  placed 
other  witnesses  on  the  stand,  who  corroborated  Fidelia  in  the 
fact  of  identity  —  that  being  the  only  point  on  which  they  were 
questioned. 

Then  the  attorney  called  the  officer  who  had  Feathers  tone 
in  charge  through  the  night,  and  who  was  among  the  first  on 
the  field  of  action,  and  helped  to  gather  up  the  wounded,  to 
state  what  he  knew  of  the  matter  in  hearing.  To  which  he 
replied,  "  I  found  Mr.  Featherstone,  the  prisoner  at  the  bar, 
at  the  bottom  of  the  stairs  with  Frink,  any  way.  How  they 
got  there  I  won't  pretend  to  say ;  on'y  they  were  piled  clost, 
and  'peared  as  how  they  must  have  lost  their  understandin' 
nigh  about  the  same  place  and  time,  while  their  mugs  looked 
as  if  they  had  a  whole  hod  of  brick  in  their  hats  when  they 
dove." 

At  this  point  the  prisoner  arose,  and,  removing  his  muffler, 
said,  with  very  imperfect  and  seemingly  painful  articulation, 
"  If  the  court  will  indulge  me,  I  can  explain  the  circumstance 
of  which  I  am  the  victim." 

After  a  few  moments  of  deliberation  the  honorable  court 
graciously  assented  to  the  proposition,  although  it  was  out  of 
the  approved  course.  For  the  experience  of  judges  goes  to 
40* 


474  THE    MUSTEK,     0  B 

show  that,  when'  the  government  has  failed  to  prove  the  guilt 
charged,  the  prisoner  does  better  to  rest  satisfied,  even  though 
he  be  entirely  innocent  of  the  particular  offence,  rather  than 
take  the  stand  himself,  and  thus  expose  the  whole  course  of 
his  life  to  unpleasant  or  curious  questions. 

Yet  Featherstone,  availing  himself  of  the  permission,  said, 
"  In  the  course  of  last  evening  I  happened  to  be  passing  the 
house  mentioned  by  the  witnesses,  and,  hearing  outcries, 
rushed  in  to  see  if  I  could  render  any  assistance.  But  I  had 
only  ascended  part  way  up  a  flight  of  stairs,  when  I  suppose 
that  I  was  struck  with  something,  as  I  can  remember  nothing 
further.  To  which  I  will  add,  that  I  did  not  see  Mr.  Frink  in 
that  house  last  night,  or  any  time,  or  quarrel  with  any  person 
there,  or  elsewhere,  to  my  "knowledge." 

On  this,  Mr.  Rutledge,  who  had  remained  in  the  court  room, 
drew  his  chair  near  to  the  attorney,  and,  talking  with  him  in 
whispers  a  moment,  that  officer  turning  inquired,  "  Mr.  Feath 
erstone,  have  you  any  acquaintance  with  William  Frink,  Esq., 
of  New  Orleans  ?  " 

"  I  have  met  a  person  by  that  name." 

"  Yes,  I  am  aware  of  that ;  as  you  have  just  told  us  that 
you  suppose  you  met  him  on  the  stairs  last  night.  But  allow 
me  to  ask  you,  Mr.  Featherstone,  if  you  transacted  any  busi 
ness  with  him  yesterday  ?  " 

"I  did." 

"  What  was  the  nature  of  that  business,  if  you  will  indulge 
me?" 

"  As  I  acted  in  the  capacity  of  counsel,  I  am  bound  not  to 
disclose  it." 

"  Mr.  Featherstone,  are  you  a  commissioner  for  the  execu 
tion  of  the  Fugitive  Slave  Act  ?  " 

"  I  hold  an  appointment  which  makes  it  my  duty  to  enforce 
that  statute  if  properly  applied  to." 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  475 

"  Have  you  taken  any  action,  under  that  law,  within  the  past 
twenty-four  hours  ?  " 

"I  have  no  right  to  answer  such  question." 

"  Under  certain  circumstances  that  is  true,  Mr.  Commis 
sioner.  But  I  will  now  put  you  a  question  which  I  know  Mr. 
Featherstone  has  a  right,  if  he  has  the  inclination,  to  answer, 
namely:  does  Mr.  Frink  claim  any  of  your  blood  as  his 
property  ?  " 

Thereupon  Featherstone,  turning  to  the  judge,  inquired 
fiercely,  "  Am  I  a  witness  or  a  prisoner  ?  or  by  what  warrant 
am  I  now  held  in  this  court  ?  " 

"  As  Mr.  Featherstone  volunteered  to  explain,"  said  the  at 
torney,  addressing  the  bench,  "  we  presumed  that  he  might  be 
anxious  to  clear  up  the  whole  mystery.  Therefore  I  will  ask 
the  volunteer,  Have  you,  or  have  you  not,  issued  process  which 
you  knew  at  the  time  of  issuing  was  intended  to  tear  your  own 
child  from  freedom,  to  consign  him  to  bitter  and  life-long 
bondage  ?  " 

"  You,  Mr.  Attorney,  are  the  mere  tool  of  another  in  these 
insinuations ;  therefore  you  are  beneath  my  notice.  But  I  am 
fully  aware  from  whence  the  questions  emanated,  and  they 
will  not  be  answered  on  demand.  I  shall  take  my  own  time, 
and  place,  and  manner  of  replying ;  yet  they  shall  be  re 
sponded  tOj  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  one  of  us  at  least." 

"  If  I  am  the  one  to  whom  this  person  addresses  his  threat," 
said  Rutledge,  rising,  and  in  a  tone  and  with  a  port  that 
thrilled  the  court,  "  he  may  learn  that  I  am  not  to  be  turned 
from  my  purpose  by  the  menace  of  a  miscreant.  Consequent 
ly,  if  the  attorney  chooses  to  place  me  on  the  stand,  I  will  re 
late  this  fiend's  history  until  he  shall  crouch  at  my  feet  like  a 
whipped  cur,  and  howl  there  for  mercy ;  unless  it  be  that  he 
is  as  insensible  to  honor  as  to  justice,  as  reckless  of  reputation 
as  of  retribution." 


476  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

Featherstone  bent  before  this,  as  a  snag  bows  to  the  wild 
sweep  of  the  Mississippi's  current,  while  the  bitterest  mortifi 
cation  and  the  direst  hate  entered  into  his  heart  to  join  all  the 
other  fell  passions  and  emotions  there,  and  so  complete  the  hell 
of  his  bosom. 

At  length  the  court  broke  the  silence  by  saying,  "  Gentle 
men,  however  mystery  may  darken  around  another,  in  connec 
tion  with  the  last  night's,  or  any  transactions,  or  wherever 
suspicion  may  attach,  it  is  our  office  to  see  that  it  is  legally 
presented  to  us  before  we  proceed  to  the  investigation ;  we 
cannot  try  two  cases  at  once.  So,  Mr.  Clerk,  let  Mr.  Feath 
erstone  be  discharged  from  custody ;  for  it  is  plain  that  he  is 
not  guilty  of  the  offence  set  forth  in  the  complaint." 


LOVE     AND     LIBERTY.  477 


CHAPTER    XLV. 

I'  the  world's  volume 
Our  Britain  seems  as  of  it,  but  not  in  it ; 
In  a  great  pool,  a  swan's  nest. 

SHAKSPEARE. 

BILL  FRINK  continued  without  mental  restoration,  though 
physically  he  was  healing  fast,  for  he  seemed  to  have  that 
vitality  which  enables  the  snake  to  move  his  body  long  after 
his  head  has  been  crushed,  and  sometimes  even  to  so  far  re 
store  it  as  to  answer  most  of  the  purposes  or  wants  of  his 
crawling  life. 

On  hearing  of  the  catastrophe,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Frink  hastened 
in  to  visit  his  brother,  but  by  no  effort  could  he  rouse  him  to 
recognition  or  recollection,  for  he  appeared  to  have  very  little 
notion  of  any  thing.  So  the  divine  was  obliged  to  seek  else 
where  for  the  information  that  he  most  desired,  and  inquired 
for  Bill's  pocket  book  and  papers  of  the  attendants  and  of  the 
superintendent,  of  the  officers  of  the  law,  and  of  the  landlord, 
saying  to  each  on  receiving  their  negative,  "  It  is  very  strange 
that  no  one  should  know  any  thing  of  them,  as  I  am  certain 
that  my  brother  had  a  large  sum  of  money  with  him,  for  he 
was  rich,  and  never  travelled  without  it." 

Finding  no  solution  of  the  mystery  elsewhere,  the  Rev. 
Joseph  ventured  to  visit  the  house  in  which  the  unfortunate 
accident  happened,  for  the  purpose  of  making  the  same  in 
quiry.  On  being  shown  in,  he  was  very  politely  received  by 
Fidelia,  which  attention,  it  must  be  stated  for  the  sake  of  the 
clergyman's  moral  character,  he  returned  with  a  contemptuous 
stare,  and  a  rebukeful  snuffing  of  the  air,  as  it  was  redolent  of 


478  THE    MUSTEE,    OB 

that  class  of  stimulants  against  which  he  had  elected  to  point 
his  cannon.  The  examination,  however,  was  well  nigh  fruit 
less,  as  he  found  nothing  except  materials  for  a  sermon,  which 
he  thought,  and  therefore  we  may  think,  was  a  "  most  lame 
and  impotent  conclusion." 

Flora  and  Fred  continued  on  board  the  Muse,  where,  al 
though  somewhat  confined  to  her  cabin  for  a  few  days,  they 
were  secure  and  happy ;  as  Elery  had  frequent  and  sure 
intelligence  of  the  condition  of  Frink,  and  the  opinion  was 
daily  gaining  confirmation  that  he  would  never  entirely  re 
cover  his  senses. 

Annie  had  been  in  the  city  and  on  board  of  the  ship  with 
her  lover,  where  she  passed  a  day  and  the  night  with  Flora ; 
at  which  time  she  gave  her  the  outline  of  a  story  that  delighted 
her  exceedingly,  and  helped  to  make  her  more  joyful  than  she 
had  seemed  for  many  a  day. 

They  talked  of  impending  changes,  also,  with  Elery ;  as  it 
was  thought  not  to  be  safe  for  the  fugitives  to  return  to  the 
cottage.  But,  before  any  thing  was  determined,  Mr.  McRae 
was  taken  into  council,  who,  after  weighing  the  doubts  and 
considering  the  circumstances  which  would  continue,  for  a 
time  at  least,  to  disturb  them  here,  like  all  true  men,  still  lov 
ing  his  fatherland,  advised  the  United  Kingdom.  To  this 
conclusion  Annie  was  not  averse,  and  talked  to  Elery  of  the 
prospect  with  a  smile  and -with  a  hope. 

After  deep  and  anxious  reflection  Flora  said,  "  Although  I 
dearly  love  the  land  of  my  fathers,  I  see  that  I  must  leave  it 
for  a  season,  and  it  may  be  forever ;  because  that,  under  ex 
isting  circumstances,  prejudices,  and  laws,  my  boy  cannot  rise 
up  and  be  a  man  in  the  country  of  his  birth ;  therefore  I  desire 
to  pass  within  the  protecting  folds  of  the  4  meteor  flag '  of 
England." 

On  hearing  Flora  so  speak  of  her  place  of  refuge,  Elery  was 


LOVE    AND     LIBERTY.  479 

sad ;  for  he  loved  his  country  with  the  passion  of  a  sailor  who 
seeks  to  bear  her  barred  ensign  in  peace  or  war  in  the  van  of 
nations.  But,  looking  to  the  constellated  stars  which  floated 
from  his  main,  he  saw  and  confessed  the  cloud,  yet  hopefully 
believed  that  it  would  pass  away  and  leave  them  unsullied, 
for  he  thought  that  he  beheld  signs  of  a  wind  from  the  north 
west.  So  he  acquiesced  in  the  necessity  of  a  "  flight  into 
Egypt,"  (so  he  called  it,)  until  tnat  auspicious  breeze  should 
drive  back  the  fogs  of  the  gulf  from  the  sky  of  the  pilgrims. 

Rutledge,  also,  was  consulted;  for  Flora,  having  noticed 
his  name  among  the  arrivals  at  the  hotels,  told  Elery  how 
truly  he  had  been  her  friend.  So  the  sailor  invited  him  on 
board  his  ship,  where  he  and  the  daughter  of  Merton  met, 
with  mingled  sadness  and  rejoicing ;  after  which  he  became  a 
frequent  visitor  while  the  Muse  remained  in  port,  seeing  and 
admiring  Annie;  and  at  length  he  parted  from  them  with 
kindly  words  and  tokens,  and  bright  assurances  for  the  future. 

Mr.  McEae  had  many  times  talked  of  visiting  the  land  of 
the  Thistle,  and  Annie  had  fondly  mused  the  while,  — 

By  heather  glade  or  hazel  shade, 

In  gloomy  gorge  or  lonely  dell, 
With  spots  by  raid  or  Genius  made 

A  glorious  tale  to  tell. 

The  change  which  awaited  their  friends  brought  up  the  sub 
ject  more  earnestly  and  more  frequently,  until  they  were  per 
suaded  to  leave  their  house  in  the  care  of  Teaser  and  a  faith 
ful  domestic,  and  take  passage  with  the  fugitives. 

Out  on  the  ocean  Annie  and  Jack  walked  the  Muse's  deck 
many  a  night  hour,  while  the  larboard  watch  was  on  duty,  — 
for  he  was  mate  and  James  was  second,  —  where  she  listened 
to  the  story  of  his  early  days,  followed  by  storm  and  peril  on 
every  sea ;  and  he  inhaled  gentleness,  grace,  and  enthusiasm 


480  THE     MUSTEE,     OR 

from  her  speech  ;  so  each  felt  and  feels  the  worth  of  the  other. 
Fred  stuck  closely  to  James,  and  believed  in  him ;  and,  mount 
ing  on  to  every  spar  and  yard  of  the  ship  with  him,  held  himself 
ready  to  shout  "  Land,  ho !  "  whenever  it  should  heave  in  sight; 
while  Flora  was  the  favorite  of  all,  and  rendered  herself  more 
dear,  if  possible,  than  ever. 

There,  too,  by  day  and  by  night,  a  slender  but  active  form 
was  often  seen  beside  the  captain,  walking  or  seated,  and  talk 
ing  low,  as  if  their  world  and  wish  were  within  whispering 
distance ;  while  the  father  smiled  upon  it  as  though  it  were  all 
his  own,  and  turned  back  in  fond  memory  to  an  earlier  day. 

At  length  Fred  had  found  his*  opportunity  to  shout  "  Land, 
ho ! "  and  the  Muse  was  in  port,  and  the  party  in  Scotland. 
There,  within  sight  of  Stirling's  towers,  in  an  ancestral  man 
sion  of  the  MeRae's,  they  had  gathered  among  gentle  kindred 
and  friends,  where  Elery  and  Annie  were  wedded. 

Saddened  with  excess  of  feeling,  the  lovers  gave  their  hands 
and  made  their  vows.  Yet,  after  those  thrilling  and  solemn 
moments,  and  the  bright  and  touching  congratulations,  they 
could  hardly  be  called  the  centre  of  attraction ;  for  the  sea 
voyage,  or  contentment  of  mind,  had  rounded  the  mustee's 
form  to  more  than  its  maiden  fulness,  so  that  at  twenty-seven 
she  seemed  more  charming  of  outline  than  ever,  while  Thought 
had  wrought  her  features  into  his  own  perfect  expression. 
And  as  she  stood  amid  the  fair  beauties  of  that  land,  infinite 
in  her  variety,  her  large,  dark  eyes  now  dim  with  emotion, 
now  on  fire  with  intelligence,  revealing  her  to  be  Oriental  in 
temperament  as  in  hue,  she  so.  filled  the  imagination  with  a 
gorgeous  vision  of  the  dim  East,  as  to  eyoke  the  clime  of  Ind, 
with  its  dusk  gold,  its  tawny  lions,  and  its  atmosphere  with  the 
crimson  tinge  — -  those,  as  it  were,  the  phantom  pageant,  and 
this  the  befitting  canopy  of  a  queen  who  won  the  enthusiastic 
admiration  of  all. 


LO.VE    AND    LIBERTY.  481 

When  the  guests  had  departed,  and  the  evening  was  draw 
ing  to  a  close,  Flora  took  the  hand  of  her  deliverer,  and,  with 
smiles  and  tears,  said,  "  I  feel  now  that  I  have  paid  something 
of  my  immense  debt,  for  without  me  you  might  never  have 
met  Annie,  or  meeting  passed  unknowing  and  unknown." 

"  Do  you  think  so  ?  "  inquired  he,  with  a  playful  smile  ;  but 
he  immediately  added,  with  a  thrill  of  emotion  in  his  utterance, 
"  Yes,  my  friend,  you  have  paid  and  overpaid,  for  it  was  your 
fiery  trial  that  exalted  me  to  this.  You,  indeed,  are  free." 

And  Annie  whispered,  "  I  am  sure,  dear  Flora,  I  could 
never  have  loved  Frank  so  entirely  and  so  admiringly  if  he 
had  not  done  you  such  glorious  service." 

As  they  were  standing  near  the  open  lattice,  Elery,  point 
ing  to  the  stars,  said,  "  Hush !  /hear  them  singing  now."  But 
Annie  touched  him,  and  met  his  glance  with  eyes  pleading  for 
silence  on  that  theme,  for  she  thought  it  a  reminiscence  too 
sacred  for  even  Flora's  ears. 

O  Love !  he  who  comes  to  thee  with  so  leal  a  heart  may  well 
hear  a  strain  of  music  from  beyond  the  stars  more  sweetly 
entrancing  than  that  which  they  chant  when  a  new  world  joins 
their  shining  choir ;  for  they,  to  the  expanse  of  heaven,  are 
but  as  glowworms  amid  a  meadow's  green. 

A  week,  and  Annie  had  gazed  on  the  charming  scenes 
through  which  the  Wizard  of  the  North  evermore  leads  the 
Lady  of  the  Lake.  Yet  though  standing  on  the  consecrated 
spot  where 

"  His  chain  of  gold  the  king  unstrung, 
The  links  o'er  Malcolm's  neck  he  flung, 
Then  gently  drew  the  glittering  band, 
And  laid  the  clasp  on  Ellen's  hand," 

she  felt  no  envy  for  the  daughter  of  the  Douglas  !     It  is  not 
for  her  to  mourn  that  the  glittering  mail,  the  waving  plumes, 
the  rush  of  the  barbed  steeds  athwart  the  ringing  lists,  the 
41 


482  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

splintering  lance,  and  clashing  steel  are  dull  and  silent  all,  for 
she  knows  that  generosity  and  valor  still  live,  and  are  glowing 
in  full  knightly  puissance  in  a  heart  devotedly  her  own. 

Through  many  a  green  valley,  by  many  a  hoary  summit, 
they  travelled  in  that  storied  land,  quickening  their  recollec 
tions  and  expanding  their  hearts  by  contact  with  the  ruins 
which  beauty,  heroism,  and  love  have  consecrated ;  and 

"  For  which  the  palace  of  the  present  hour 
Must  yield  its  pomp,  and  wait  till  ages  are  its  dower." 

Then,  in  one  of  the  verdant  vales  of  England,  by  the  brink  of 
bright  water,  wherein  Fred  sails  the  schooner  which  Jack  has 
given  him,  in  an  ancient  and  picturesque  cottage  the  party 
found  repose. 

There  Flora  will  wait  a  more  auspicious  hour  to  return  to 
her  country.  Strong  in  security,  happy  in  rare  friendship, 
happiest  of  all  in  the  promise  of  her  child,  she  looks  back  on 
the  dangers  which  she  has  passed  with  silent  and  fervent 
thanksgiving,  and  forward  with  serene  hope  and  trust. 

As  the  friends  sat  together  in  the  evening  twilight,  previous 
to  the  morning  of  their  separation,  talking  of  past  hours  and 
future  prospects,  Elery  remarked,  "  I  have  seen  care-worn  and 
hunger-wasted  faces  here,  such  as  never  meet  me  in  the  States, 

where 

« Plenty  leaps 
To  laughing  life  with  her  redundant  horn.' 

Yet,  I  confess,  I  shall  feel  more  satisfaction  in  aiding  the  mind 
of  Fred  to  unfold  here,  in  a  country  where  color  cannot  de 
press  or  close  against  him  the  gates  of  learning,  or  the  field  of 

war,  where 

'  His  spur  may  lance  his  courser's  flank, 
Before  proud  chiefs  of  princely  rank,' 

or  bar  him  from  the  great  heights  of  her  free  debate ;  but 
rather  is  he  invited  to  all ;  there  to  contend  for  the  palm  with 
the  sons  of  kings  and  of  genius." 


LOVE     AND    LIBERTY.  483 

"Yes,"  said  Annie,  "the  moral  sense  of  this  people  is  such 
that  to  have  been  a  slave  is  a  title  to  consideration." 

"  But  look  to  Ireland,  to  India,"  suggested  Elery. 

"  That  is  the  work  of  the  government,"  said  Mr.  McRae ; 
"and  whatever  of  wrong  is  therein,  the  heart  of  England 
grieves  over  it,  and  will  not  always  suffer  it ;  for  she  has 
achieved  a  way  to  the  throne,  where  she  utters  words  of  warn 
ing,  or  of  menace,  as  freely  and  as  fearlessly  as  did  the  proph 
ets  in  the  presence  of  the  kings  of  Judah.  Even  emancipation 
was  carried  by  a  few  brave  lances,  bearing  down  on  serried 
ranks  which  were  fortified  with  the  appliances  of  the  mer 
chant,  and  armed  with  the  remonstrances  of  the  planter.  So  it 
will  ever  be  with  wrong,  however  embattled,  before  the  Ithu- 
riel  spear  of  conscience." 

Those  were  cheering  thoughts  to  Flora,  and  she  said, 
"  Where  freedom  is  the  most  sacredly  guarded,  there  is  my 
country.  O,  may  the  time  soon  come  when  that  hope  will 
lead  me  to  my  native  land  and  to  you ; "  and  this  was  the  ear 
nest  prayer  of  all. 

So,  on  the  morrow,  they  parted  from  the  fugitives  to  embark 

"  Once  more  upon  the  waters  !  yet  once  more  !  " 
and  sunny  was  their  voyage,  and  soon  they  heard 

"  The  watch-dog's  honest  bark 
Bay  deep-mouthed  welcome  as  they  drew  near  home." 


484  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 


CHAPTER   XLYI. 

But  now  'tis  past, 
And  the  spell  closes  with  its  silent  seal. 

BYRON. 

RUFUS  MERTON'S  sister  has  nearly  accomplished  the  impor 
tant  work  which  she  had  laid  out  for  herself,  before  visiting 
Europe;  namely,  the  marriage  of  her  daughters  —  for  the 
eldest  has  espoused  "  Fed,"  and  the  other  is  affianced  to 
Carlo ;  both  men  of  such  wealth  as  to  be  above  any  useful 
employment ;  and  their  tastes  will  lead  them  to  bring  up  their 
children  on  the  same  course,  so  that  they  must,  at  length, 
strike  the  rocks  of  poverty ;  to  go  under,  or  awake  to  swim 
for  their  lives,  and  acquire  new  vigor  in  the  struggle. 

Bill  Frink  has  been  placed  under  guardianship,  and  put  to 
board  in  a  hospital  for  the  insane.  He  has  entirely  recovered 
his  bodily  health,  but  of  reason  he  has  only  just  enough  to  be 
unreasonable,  with  so  much  of  memory  as  to  think  that  the 
institution  wherein  he  is  confined  is  a  college,  and  such  still- 
lingering  aspiration  that  he  pores,  hour  on  hour,  over  a  child's 
story  book,  as  though  he  imagined  it  would  conduct  him  into 
that  armory  where  he  had  supposed  that  poets  and  orators 
found  the  shining  panoply  in  which  they  took  captive  all  human 
hearts,  and  conquered  Time,  and  chained  him  to  their  tri 
umphal  chariots.  He,  indeed,  never  heard  —  and,  if  he  had, 
it  was  not  in  his  nature  to  comprehend  —  how  the  mother 
of  Achilles  ascended  to  the  gods  to  obtain  even  the  material 
armor  for  her  son  ;  how  much  more  those  polished  and  far- 
flaming  arms  which  invest  heroes  with  the  power  to  overthrow 
and  rebuild  creeds  and  institutions  ! 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  485 

Even  Bill's  reverend  brother  has  been  subdued,  and  conse 
quently  improved,  as  fear  is  a  salutary  potion  for  such  natures. 
When  forced  to  think,  as  he  is,  sometimes,  that  Park  may 
hear  of  the  circumstances  which,  probably,  caused  the  fugitives 
to  flee,  he  trembles.  Still  he  can  learn  nothing  that  was  done 
by  his  brother  to  molest  them,  although  he  has  made  many  a 
cautious  but  palpitating  inquiry;  he  only  knows  the  coinci 
dence,  and  gropes  around  in  darkness  and  doubt. 

Were  it  not  that  Bill's  hand  may  yet  appear  in  it,  he  would 
be  glad  that  they  were  gone,  let  it  be  to  what  place  soever ; 
for  he  could  not  always  bring  himself  to  speak  kindly  of  Flora, 
and  of  Fred  he  frequently  said,  "  He  was  the  sauciest  boy  I 
ever  saw ;  and  he  will  surely  come  to  some  untimely  and 
terrible  end."  Yet  we  hope  that  the  child  may  not  suffer 
from  his  opinion ;  for  he  likes  his  school,  and  reverences  his 
kind  and  skilful  teacher,  while  he  overflows  with  love  for  his 
mother  and  her  friends.  On  such  paths  the  hand  of  Heaven 
may  lead  him  clear  of  this  pious  malediction  —  at  least  let  us 
so  trust ;  for  it  has  been  aforetime  predicted,  by  similar  proph 
ets,  of  those  on  whom  it  came  not  to  pass. 

Mrs.  Fardel  peruses  the  dictionary  frequently,  yet  she  can 
not  quite  satisfy  herself  which  word,  among  a  few,  Park  in 
tended  to  apply  to  her ;  and  this  leads  her  to  think  of  Aurelia ; 
while  both  considerations  have  tended  to  abate  something  of 
her  zeal  in  mercenary  match-making. 

The  mansion  of  the  Vernons  appears  to  be  fading  back 
into  the  gloom  in  which  we  found  it.  The  dress  of  the  old 
gentleman  has  become  worn  and  faded,  his  step  short  and  un- 
elastic,  so  that  he  leans  more  heavily  on  his  staff  as  he  comes 
out  of  the  back  passage,  where,  pausing  on  the  sidewalk,  and 
seeming  to  have  no  aim,  or  being  unable  to  determine  which 
way  to  move,  he  gazes  now  on  vacancy,  now  upon  the  ground. 

Mrs.  Vernon  has  again  retired  to  the  gloomy  region  in  the 
41* 


486  THE    MUSTEE,    OR 

rear  —  as  only  her  economy  and  skill  can  maintain  the  house 
hold.  There,  industriously  but  silently,  she  meets  the  exi 
gencies  of  the  hour.  Her  form  does  not  bend  to  the  weight, 
neither  does  her  pride  ;  although  the  light  of  her  life  is  paling, 
so  that  her  atmosphere  grows  wintry,  and  hope  sinks  below 
the  horizon,  while  night  is  steadily  encroaching  with  clouds 
that  leave  no  star. 

Aurelia  has  obtained  a  divorce  from  Featherstone  for  cru 
elty,  with  alimony  almost  too  meagre  to  spin  therefrom  the 
slender  thread  of  subsistence ;  for  if  he  had  property,  he 
managed  to  sequester  it  from  her  as  effectually  as  from  his 
creditors.  So  her  insane  dance  is  ended  ;  and  if  she  still  lin 
ger  in  the  dreary  house,  so  haunted  with  sorrowful  thoughts 
and  recollections,  it  is  some  consolation  to  know  that  he  who 
tempted  her  to  the  measure  can  no  more  drag  her  to  the  floor. 
If  her  beauty  has  faded  with  her  woes,  or  her  garments,  the 
world  cares  not  —  indeed,  observes  not ;  for  she  dropped  out  of 
their  memories  when  she  fell  from  their  sphere ;  and  she 
knows  not  yet  where  to  turn  for  repose,  or  hope,  or  consola 
tion,  but  sits  in  the  shadow  and  accuses  Fate.  A  colony  of 
spiders  have  taken  possession  of  the  deep  recesses  of  the 
doorway,  and  stretched  their  gossamer  nets  across  the  entrance 
where  she  once  passed  so  often  and  so  gorgeous  with  the  gar 
niture  of  Fortune  ;  for  they  have  run  a  cord  to  her  cham 
ber  window,  and  frequently  look  in  upon  her  listlessness  or 
her  despair,  to  return  to  their  spinning,  their  snaring,  and  their 
feasting,  with  an  instinct  of  security  for  many  a  future  day. 

Featherstone,  since  his  night  adventure,  which  had  such 
color  of  suspicion  that  it  left  a  stain,  has  gradually  lost  what 
little  practice  he  had  of  the  better  sort,  and  is  sinking  into  a 
defender  of  drunkenness,  rowdyism,  and  petty  larceny,  in  the 
court  where  he  last  appeared.  Yet  he  visits  Mrs.  Summers 
occasionally,  for  she  still  sees  something  in  him  to  like,  and 


LOVE    AND    LIBERTY.  487 

discredits  whatever  is  said  against  him  ;  so  that  even  he  is  not 
without  a  friend. 

Though  Park  is  no  longer  young,  he  still  dreams  of  love, 
and  is  worthy  of  the  tenderest  flame  that  ever  filled  the  eye  of 
beauty  with  divine  light.  In  him  are  unsounded  depths  of 
affection.  His  sympathy  with  the  weak,  the  wronged,  and  the 
suffering,  is  only  the  overflow  of  an  inexhaustible  fountain, 
which  gathers  volume  as  he  advances  in  years.  He  keeps  the 
course  which  he  pointed  out  to  the  convention,  alike  regardless 
of  sneers,  ridicule,  and  denunciation ;  for  great  names  cheer, 
a  stout  heart  arms,  and  bright  hopes  lead  him.  He  joyfully 
accepts  every  call  to  plead  against  human  bondage  before  the 
sovereign  people;  and,  in  so  doing,  has  taken  the  tribute  of 
tears  and  admiration  from  many  of  the  gifted  and  graceful  of 
the  land.  His  lofty  spirit  thirsted  for  these  springs,  and  they 
are  sweet  to  his  soul.  Thus  animated,  he  is  sowing  the  seeds 
of  a  glorious  harvest ;  and  though  he  may  not  be  among  the 
reapers,  his  name  will  kindle  their  enthusiasm  and  inspire 
their  songs. 


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